[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SPACE LAUNCH LIABILITY INDEMNIFICATION EXTENSION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 15, 2014

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I voted for H.R. 3547, which will 
fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year. The bill 
is imperfect, but it finally rolls back parts of the senseless 
sequester, and improves the Murray-Ryan budget deal that I've referred 
to as a D+ piece of legislation.
  While this bill is a far cry from regular order, it moves us away 
from the harmful cycle of governing in the midst of one manufactured 
crisis after another. Undoing the harmful and indiscriminate cuts for 
programs like Head Start and a modest increase for the National 
Institutes of Health is the least we can do.
  One of several bright spots is the strong funding to increase access 
to clean water, sanitation and hygiene for the world's poorest. This is 
an effort that I've been a part of for over a decade, and this bill 
will enable the U.S. to save and improve the lives of thousands of men, 
women and children.
  Even with the positives, this bill continues to underfund America and 
fails to help those still reeling from the economic downturn. There is 
much for Congress still to do. It's disappointing that this package 
doesn't restore unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed 
while at the same time providing lavish funding for nuclear weapons 
that we won't use or need. We must invest in our nation's 
infrastructure to create jobs and support economic growth.
  I will continue to work towards a broader effort in Congress to 
secure real change, and to rebuild and renew America.

                          ____________________