[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

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                               speech of

                           HON. JOYCE BEATTY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 2015

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (H. Con. Res. 27) establishing the budget for the United 
     States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth 
     appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 
     2025:

  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Chair, I support the CBC Alternative Budget for 
Fiscal Year 2016.
  As has been highlighted during today's debate, the Federal budget is 
a blueprint for our nation. It is a statement of our national 
priorities and of our national values.
  Our budget should lay the groundwork to secure a strong middle class, 
create more jobs, and grow paychecks.
  We should be working to create a level playing field for all 
Americans.
  We cannot continue with these short-term fixes which lately have 
become all too common in Congress.
  For instance, in May, the Highway Trust Fund is set to expire--again.
  Yet, more than sixty-five percent of America's roads are in need of 
repair and the American Society of Civil Engineers has given our 
nation's infrastructure a D in its most recent report card.
  We could be creating thousands of jobs--from real estate to 
construction work--if we got serious about investing in infrastructure.
  As the conscious of the Congress. The CBC budget focuses on creating 
jobs and giving hard-working Americans families a fair-share.
  Our CBC budget would provide $230 billion for our nation's 
infrastructure--providing an immediate investment to help modernize our 
roads, bridges, and tunnels, as well as providing dollars to build new 
and improve existing commuter and public transportation systems.
  We cannot delay or rely on short term funding patches that seem to 
become the norm in this Republican led Congress.
  Mr. Chair, when we rebuild our roads and modernize our nation's 
transportation, we create and maintain good-paying jobs.
  That's the best investment we can make of taxpayer dollars. Not only 
do we keep Americans safe, but we invest in our greatest resource--the 
American worker. That's what I call a bang for your buck.

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