[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E613-E614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (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. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to the 
Republican Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2015. The budget put forth 
by House Republicans is unnecessary and unwise. Congress has already 
passed a budget target for FY2015. The House Appropriations Committee 
has already marked up two bills. This Republican budget is a complete 
distraction from the real work Congress should be focusing on--issues 
such as comprehensive immigration reform, the restoration of long-term 
unemployment insurance, the Paycheck Fairness Act or others. Instead, 
Republican leaders have wasted another legislative week with endless 
floor debate on a

[[Page E614]]

budget that recycles many of the rejected Tea Party proposals from the 
past. Once again, Congressional Republicans are demonstrating their 
true priorities: providing massive tax breaks for the wealthiest 
Americans and corporations at the expense of Middle Class America.
  This ten year Republican budget is the wrong vision for Minnesota and 
America. Yet again, the GOP abandons investments that ensure broad-
based economic prosperity today and into the future. This budget 
jeopardizes the health and economic security of our seniors by re-
opening the donut hole and ending the Medicare guarantee. Their 
proposal fails our children by making irresponsible cuts to our schools 
and Pell Grants, putting the dream of a college education out of reach 
for millions of young adults. Extreme reductions to the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Social Services Block Grant, 
and Medicaid will inflict unnecessary pain on our children, working 
families, and seniors. By slashing investments in infrastructure, their 
budget rejects a proven path to grow our economy and create jobs. 
Instead, it advances the priorities of the wealthiest Americans--
massive tax breaks for the top one percent and corporations, while 
adding to the tax burden of middle class families and destroying the 
social safety net. The Ryan-Republican budget is a recipe for American 
economic decline and increased pain for the vulnerable. It moves our 
nation backwards and gives up on the American dream, the idea that 
everyone has a fair shot at success. I strongly reject these misguided 
priorities and the Republicans' harmful vision for our Nation.
  Instead, I am pleased to support the budget resolution offered by the 
Democrats. Our budget proposal prioritizes the needs of our seniors and 
middle class families. It strengthens the social safety net, protects 
Medicare, and preserves the Affordable Care Act to help ensure all 
Americans have access to affordable health coverage. The Democratic 
Alternative invests in the needs of our communities and will help 
create jobs by expanding tax incentives for low- and middle- class 
families. It makes critical investments in education to help make 
college more affordable and ensure that all students have the 
opportunity to succeed. And it rejects the reckless cuts caused by 
sequestration to non-defense spending starting next year, while 
maintaining the funding level requested by the President for defense. 
The Democratic Alternative is a vision for our country that will keep 
our communities and our economy strong into the future.
  There were also good ideas put forward by the Congressional 
Progressive Caucus (CPC) and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Both 
budget proposals would help support the needs of Minnesota families and 
keep America strong.
  The bottom line is that the Ryan-Republican budget resolution 
increases the tax breaks for wealthy, abandons America's middle class, 
and punishes the poor. I came to Congress to move our Nation forward. I 
urge my colleagues to reject this backward vision put forward by 
Chairman Ryan and instead support the Democratic Alternative.

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