[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015

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                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (H. Con. Res. 96) establishing the budget for the United 
     States Government for fiscal year 2015 and setting forth 
     appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2016 through 
     2024:

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in 
opposition to the Republican Budget Resolution and in strong support of 
the Congressional Black Caucus' Alternative Budget.
  To say that the Republican Budget Resolution is dangerous is an 
understatement. In particular, two areas of great concern to me will be 
negatively impacted by this resolution.
  As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, and former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I urge 
the Appropriations Committee to come as close as possible to 
maintaining the FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act levels of 
investment in research and development and STEM education. R&D and STEM 
education are critical to our nation's future, and we support the 
topline levels in the President's FY 2015 budget request and 
Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative for the Federal R&D 
agencies as worthy of support.
  Shortchanging those accounts will wind up shortchanging our future 
economy and quality of life. Increased investment in these areas will 
pay significant dividends over the long run.
  As Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), we aim to be the, 
``Conscience of the Congress.'' I feel compelled to discuss the 
disastrous effects the Ryan Republican Budget would have on our 
country's research and development enterprise, and consequently, the 
disastrous effect this budget would have on America's future 
competitiveness.
  As others have pointed out, the Republican Budget cuts non-defense 
discretionary spending by 1.3 trillion dollars below the baseline 2014 
spending level, adjusted for inflation. These are massive cuts on top 
of a budget that has already seen large reductions in recent years. The 
effects on research and development would be dramatic. The American 
Association for the Advancement of Science estimates that the Ryan 
budget would cut civilian research and development by 92 billion 
dollars from the current baseline and 112 billion dollars below the 
President's budget request.
  These are striking reductions. Please keep in mind here that the 
National Science Foundation's total annual budget is just a little over 
seven billion dollars. So the Republican Budget cuts more research and 
development funding every year than the entire annual budget of the 
National Science Foundation.
  Additionally, as a senior Member of the Transportation & 
Infrastructure Committee, I am incensed that this budget fails to 
address our nation's aging infrastructure.
  Millions of Americans would be negatively impacted by this measure, 
leaving families, individuals and businesses with virtually no 
transportation options. This proposal would do away with Amtrak 
operating subsidies, potentially eliminating service for more than 20 
million people.
  Most shamefully, however, this budget includes virtually no highway 
or transit investment and does little to address the impending crisis 
facing our nation's highways. In fact, this resolution assigns a 
spending level of $20.95 billion for transportation and infrastructure. 
This is a reduction of $50.99 billion from last year and eviscerates 
the total transportation and infrastructure budget.
  For the third year in a row, the American Society of Civil Engineers 
(ASCE) has awarded our nation's infrastructure a ``D+.'' Time and time 
again, it becomes clear that investing in our infrastructure lays the 
groundwork for a competitive economy. What we need now is targeted 
investment in our infrastructure, not draconian reductions.
  Our infrastructure is too important to gamble on and the Republican 
Budget resolution is a roll of the dice. It would result in the loss of 
thousands of construction related jobs in already economically 
disadvantaged areas and cut public transportation funding to 
historically low levels.
  Quite frankly, this budget is dangerous and I ask my Republican 
colleagues to scrap this plan and work across the aisle to craft a plan 
that invests in our future. A budget that ignores funding for science 
and technology, and fails to include targeted infrastructure 
investments, fails the American future.
  The Congressional Black Caucus' 'budget includes $500 billion in 
targeted investments and programs that invest in our future. It closes 
tax loopholes, deductions and exceptions that only benefit the wealthy. 
Addressing the past wrongs of wealth inequality will help create an 
economy that works for every American. Passing the CBC's Alternative 
Budget is the first step in righting those wrongs.

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