[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1938-H1941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ISSUES OF THE DAY
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and include any extraneous material on the subject of
this Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I
rise today to coanchor this CBC Special Order hour along with the
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick), my distinguished
colleague.
For the next 60 minutes, members of the CBC have the opportunity to
speak directly to the American people on the default on America act,
Speaker McCarthy's draconian plan to default on our debt. The act
proposes drastic cuts to vital government programs such as SNAP, Social
Security, and housing programs, which serve as lifelines for our
communities.
There is a group within the Republican Party that are holding these
programs hostage in exchange for paying the debt we have already
incurred. However, the CBC is here tonight to declare that this
approach is a nonstarter, and we will not negotiate over paying the
Nation's bills that we have incurred. We advocate for a clean debt
limit, a bill that will protect the well-being of our citizens and our
Nation's financial stability.
This issue holds great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus,
to our Congress, the constituents we represent, and all Americans.
I now yield to my coanchor, the Honorable Congresswoman Sheila
Cherfilus-McCormick.
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my deep
concern with Speaker McCarthy's reckless plan to address the debt
ceiling, which will impose a hardship on working Americans. Instead of
solving problems, House Republicans are holding our Nation hostage and
demanding that their ransom be met.
Let us not beat around the bush: Caps equal cuts, and Speaker
McCarthy's brinkmanship is dangerous. If extreme Republicans have their
way, communities across the country will suffer.
The 320-page proposal from the other side of the aisle pushes forward
drastic cuts to government programs, programs that families in my
district desperately need.
The Republican Party seems to be more focused on padding the pockets
of large corporations and billionaires instead of lending a hand to
working Americans. The GOP framework is nothing short of a catastrophe.
It includes sweeping cuts to SNAP and food assistance programs that
low-income families depend on. It destroys President Biden's student
loan debt agenda under the guise of fiscal responsibility. It imposes
cruel Medicaid work requirements, ripping healthcare coverage directly
from people's hands. It would rescind $80 billion allocated to the IRS
through President Biden's historic Inflation Reduction Act. It would
repeal clean energy tax credits, which have proven crucial in
addressing the climate crisis.
What Republicans are proposing is just not in the best interests of
our working people. The American people need a government that works
for them, not against them. There will certainly be an opportunity to
debate the GOP's rightwing policy proposals down the road, but doing so
at the expense of the American people through gamesmanship is reckless
and irresponsible.
We need to all work together to make life easier, not harder. Members
of Congress have a responsibility to serve the American people. I urge
Speaker McCarthy and the Republicans to stop playing political games
with our economy and those we are elected to serve.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Waters).
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, in just a few months, the United States is
on track to default on its debt for the first time in history. This is
because Speaker McCarthy has unveiled a bill that he claims will
fulfill our debt obligations, but in reality it will cut access to
critical social programs supporting education, food assistance,
healthcare, and housing. It would devastate our economy, and we all
know it is a dead-on-arrival bill. It will crash our global financial
markets.
According to Moody's, under McCarthy's legislation, 780,000 Americans
will lose their jobs, and our Nation's unemployment rate will surge. We
all know that this pain will be borne disproportionately by people of
color.
Republicans must put an end to this needless political theater and
raise the debt limit, as they did three times with no problem under the
twice-impeached and newly indicted former President Donald Trump, who
signed $4.7 trillion in new deficits into law. Not only that, but they
must do so without any cuts or reductions to housing funds given the
terrible state of affordability in America.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican colleagues who care about our
economy--or who say they care about our economy--and the American Dream
to get serious and work with Democrats to avert a catastrophic default
by supporting a clean bill to raise the debt limit.
Mr. Speaker, this should not be about politics. This should be about
whether or not you love this country and whether or not you believe
that we should pay our bills, whether or not you think it would be
horrible if this government is to shut down.
If we don't pay our bills and the government shuts down, employees
will not be able to put food on their tables. They will not be able to
pay their mortgage or their rent. They will not be able to support
their children in the ways that they should be supported. This is
serious business.
Now, this business of Mr. McCarthy trying to negotiate with the
President of the United States to say: Well, if you do what I want you
to do, then I will support debt limits.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot do what the majority wants us to do because,
first of all, they don't know what they are doing. They are putting
this country at great risk.
[[Page H1939]]
{time} 2015
What you are saying is you don't care about the debt. You don't care
about the fact that there are people waiting to be paid that we owe.
You don't care whether or not there is a government shutdown. You
don't care whether or not these jobs are lost.
I am saying to you: We will not support that kind of so-called
negotiation. We will not support your putting this country at risk in
the way that you are doing.
You need to come to grips with the fact that we have to raise the
debt limit, and it has been done historically when it has needed to be
done, and we expect you to do it.
I leave this moment by saying to you: We are waiting on you, Mr.
McCarthy, to do the responsible thing, get with our President, and
let's support our country.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Waters) for her keen words and precise insight.
Mr. Speaker, fellow Americans, I come before you today with a heavy
heart and a deep sense of concern for the future of our beloved Nation.
It appears we have reached a crucial juncture where our democracy's
very essence is being challenged. The Republican proposed budget, also
known as the default on America act, seeks to slash a minimum of 22
percent from nondefense discretionary programs as a condition for
raising the debt ceiling.
Mr. Speaker, this money has already been spent. It has benefited the
American public. This is a game of brinksmanship, but it has dire
consequences even for us having the conversation.
The plan contains severe cuts to essential programs like SNAP. SNAP,
the acronym meaning Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. I
shall repeat: Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. This is for
people that simply do not have enough to eat in our great country.
This plan also contains severe cuts for Social Security and housing
assistance, which act as crucial lifelines for all of our communities.
This minority group within the Republican Party is callously using
these indispensable programs as bargaining chips, bargaining on the
backs of the most vulnerable. This strategy not only endangers our
economy but undermines the foundation of our society.
For residents of my district in Illinois, the First Congressional
District, the consequences of not raising the debt ceiling and
defaulting on the debt would be dire.
I am compelled to share some startling statistics with you today. Mr.
Speaker, 7,000 jobs would be lost alone in the First Congressional
District in Illinois. Over 103,000 people in the First District nearing
retirement would lose on average $20,000 out of their 401K. Mr.
Speaker, 95,300 households in the First District would have their
Social Security checks at risk.
These devastating impacts not only affect the families who are
directly involved but would also disrupt the local economy.
In the First District alone, $151 million a month would be removed
from Social Security income from families.
Moreover, the health benefits of over 305,000 residents in the First
District on Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans coverage would be
jeopardized.
It is clear that we must demand a clean debt limit that addresses the
needs of our communities without threatening the livelihoods of the
most vulnerable.
As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am particularly upset and
appalled about the suggested cuts to our food and nutrition assistance
programs.
We have been in committee for over 100 days now and have not had a
single meeting on the largest portion of the ag bill, the SNAP food
portion, which comprises 75 percent of our funding.
The bill, proposed by the House Agriculture Committee with over 20
Republicans, would dramatically expand the population of people subject
to policies that take SNAP away from those not meeting onerous work and
work reporting requirements.
I want some of my fellow colleagues to understand. Some people are in
transit deserts where they do not have easy access to mass transit or
private transportation.
Many people that are on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance
Program are women and children. Eighty percent.
Some people have to care for aging parents and have to care for
disabled children. I think it is more complicated than what is being
shared.
This punitive and ineffective work will put SNAP's grocery benefits
at risk for adults up to age 65 and many families with school-age
children, in which parents or other adults are unable to work or cannot
find jobs or cannot find enough hours.
In the last 2 weeks, in my district again, Mr. Speaker, Walmart, the
Nation's largest employer, has pulled out of two stores directly in the
district. We are now having a work crisis where we don't have enough
employment, and new employment has to be created.
In Illinois' First Congressional District, over 54,000 households,
about 20 percent of all of our residents, receive SNAP benefits. Of
these recipients, a staggering 85 percent are African American.
The median income of households on SNAP is a mere $20,289. Mr.
Speaker, that is $390 a week where people are having to pay their rent,
their transportation, and trying to get food.
Not only is it $20,289 annually, $390 a week, which comes out to
simply $55 of income a day. These statistics paint a clear picture of
the most vulnerable populations in our society; those who are
struggling to make ends meet, those who are disproportionately affected
by systemic inequalities, and those who desperately need our support to
ensure their basic human rights to healthy supplemental food.
Our people need shelter and dignity, and they should not be used as
bargaining chips to advance anyone's agenda.
In the face of these proposed cuts, we must acknowledge the
catastrophic impact that they would have on our Nation's housing, a
fundamental human right that is critical to the health, safety, and
dignity of all of our citizens.
If these cuts were to be implemented, 640,000 families across the
Nation would lose access to rental assistance if we go through with the
draconian 22 percent proposed cut across the board.
We are talking about more than 430,000 low-income families facing
eviction from Section 8 housing.
This would result in an unparalleled loss of affordable housing for
older adults, families with disabilities, families with children, and
our veterans--individuals who have already confronted adversity and who
deserve our unwavering support and protection.
Yet, these threats to housing are not the only concern we must
address. Amid these proposed budget cuts, we must also be vigilant of
the detrimental effects on the central services provided by the Social
Security Administration.
The cuts would necessitate the closure of field offices and limit
access to persons having in-person visits, imposing undue burdens on
those seeking assistance.
Furthermore, people applying for disability benefits would experience
an additional 2-month delay in the processing of their claims,
prolonging the struggle to access crucial financial support.
This is a moment that demands our outrage, our empathy, and our
unwavering commitment to justice. It is a moment that calls upon each
and every one of us to stand up and say, ``no more,'' not to negotiate
with the debt ceiling.
The bills are already due, and our Nation has the character and the
capacity. Now we must furnish the will. I hope Wall Street is watching
tonight because the chasm and the gap between the proposals is stark,
and the time is limited.
We will not allow policies that perpetuate inequality to widen the
chasm between the haves and have nots.
We will not be complicit in the erosion of the very foundation upon
which this great Nation was built. The belief that all people are
created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights; among them,
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is our moral and ethical obligation to stand against these
proposed budget cuts and call for a clean raising of the debt ceiling.
It has happened three times before in the previous administration.
Close to
[[Page H1940]]
$5 trillion was added. These are America's bills. We can be responsible
and meet our obligation.
The consequences of such actions would be dire and felt by those who
are already struggling the most. Overall, a default on the U.S. debt
obligation would trigger a loss of nearly 7 million jobs, push the
unemployment rate north of 8 percent, eliminate $10 trillion in
household wealth, and reduce real GDP by greater than 4 percent,
according to the Congressional Budget Office.
This is not a path we can afford to take. Our future and the very
fabric of our society depend on us defending the rights of the most
vulnerable among us and protecting the essential programs that have
sustained our communities for generations.
Together, let us stand strong against these cuts and fight for the
betterment of all Americans. We must ensure that every person has a
fair chance to thrive and that the promise of equality and justice
remain at the heart of our great Nation.
Mr. Speaker, may God bless these United States.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick).
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much
time is remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Illinois has 40 minutes
remaining.
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today again for the
second time to express my concerns with Speaker McCarthy's proposal
which cancelled President Biden's student loan debt forgiveness program
and wreaks havoc on our educational system.
President Biden is committed to providing economic relief for
families and ensuring that all students can access quality education
that sets them up on the best pathway to success.
Altogether, more than 40 million borrowers would qualify for the
Biden administration's debt relief program. It is also targeted at
those who need the most help with nearly 90 percent of the benefits of
the relief going to out-of-school borrowers who earn less than $75,000
per year.
Speaker McCarthy has other priorities. Both he and other extreme
Republicans are willing to send our economy into a recession, using
American students as a bargaining chip.
If extreme MAGA Republicans had their way, they would not only
eliminate Pell Grants for more than 6,000 students in Florida but would
also reduce the maximum reward by nearly $1,000 for the remaining
500,000 students who receive Pell Grants.
This would be especially harmful to communities of color. Black and
Brown college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student debt
than White college graduates.
Black women carry the highest student loan debt burden of any racial
or ethnic group. This is unacceptable.
Republicans aren't stopping at college either. Their proposal would
mean 10,000 children in Florida would lose access to childcare and to
slots in the Head Start programs.
Nationwide, 100,000 children would lose access to childcare, making
it difficult for parents to join the workforce.
My Republican colleagues care more about special interest groups and
massive corporations than our children.
We need to be investing in our kids all across America and in their
lives and give them the tools they need for success.
Speaker McCarthy's proposal does the exact opposite. I call on the
Republicans to quit playing games with our children's future.
It is time for our parties to come together and make decisions that
are best for our community and for all Americans.
The party politics, the partisan politics, must end today. I ask
Leader McCarthy to not go forward with this proposal and to have
compassion for American people, for our students, for our children, and
for Americans across this country.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman form
Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) for her remarks.
Honoring Harry Belafonte
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to
a man whose life, legacy, and unwavering commitment to justice and
equality has left an indelible mark on our Nation.
I speak of none other than the incomparable Mr. Harry Belafonte who
passed away today at the age of 96.
At a time when segregation was still deeply entrenched and Black
faces were scarce on screens, both large and small, Mr. Belafonte's
historic rise to the pinnacle of show business broke barriers and paved
the way for future generations.
Mr. Belafonte's exceptional music career earned him numerous
accolades and awards. A three-time Grammy Award winner, including the
prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, he was recognized for
his enduring contributions to the world of music.
{time} 2030
His exceptional talent transcended mediums, earning him an Emmy Award
for his work on television and a Tony Award for his brilliance on
stage.
In 1989, he received one of the highest honors bestowed upon artists
in the United States: The Kennedy Center Honors. Our Nation continued
to recognize his extraordinary contributions when, in 1994, he was
awarded the National Medal of Arts for his significant impact on
American culture.
In 2014, Mr. Belafonte received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
at the Academy's Sixth Annual Governors Awards. In 2022, the world of
music paid homage to his influence by inducting him into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame in the early influence category.
As we celebrate Mr. Harry Belafonte's life and memory, let us also
remember that he was much more than an extraordinary entertainer. I
have had the privilege and honor of meeting and knowing Mr. Belafonte,
and what attracted me to him the most is that he was a tireless
advocate for civil rights, using his fame and fortune to further the
cause of equality and uplift the lives of countless African Americans.
He used his celebrity, his wealth, his power, and his influence to
transcend the racial divisions of our day and time.
He contributed to Reverend Martin Luther King at the height of the
civil rights challenges in America. That says something about where you
stand in times of challenge.
Belafonte's close friendship and support of Reverend Martin Luther
King exemplified the duality of his life's work. He stood beside Mrs.
Coretta Scott King and Duke Ellington at the ``Salute to Montgomery''
in 1956, raising funds for the civil rights movement when it was not
popular, but it was the right thing to do.
Part of the legacy he leaves behind is a call for our current
generation to use their celebrity, their influence, and their access as
they walk the corridors of power to give truth in high places.
During the tumultuous 1960s, Belafonte continued to provide much-
needed financial assistance to the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference, most notably during the Birmingham, Alabama, campaign.
He opened his home and his heart, inviting prominent individuals for
a meeting where Reverend King and Fred Shuttlesworth laid out their
plans and appealed for support. Belafonte answered the call, not
seeking a car, not wanting a bigger house, not wanting to boast about
his earnings. He raised over $50,000 and donated it to the civil rights
cause to keep Reverend Martin Luther King's movement and our movement
alive to enable the campaign to proceed, even while Reverend Martin
Luther King was in jail in Birmingham writing the ``Letter From a
Birmingham Jail.'' Mr. Belafonte worked the outside, while Reverend
Martin Luther King worked the inside.
In the aftermath of Reverend Martin Luther King's tragic
assassination, it was Mr. Harry Belafonte, not the entertainer but the
activist, who continued to fight for his dream, who gave the King
family financial support after their father was slain with four young
children at home, serving as the executor of King's estate and chairing
the Martin Luther King Memorial Fund. His commitment to civil rights
and humanitarian issues never wavered, and his voice rang out in
support of those who sought justice and equality both at home and
abroad.
My fellow Americans, as we honor the life and memory of Harry
Belafonte, let us remember his unwavering dedication to the cause of
justice,
[[Page H1941]]
and let us strive to carry on his legacy by standing tall in the face
of challenge and controversy. Reverend Martin Luther King said it is
not where you stand in moments of comfort and convenience but where you
stand in moments of challenge and controversy.
Let us, like Harry Belafonte, be champions of equality guided by the
principles of compassion, empathy, and love. It is said: ``Each and
every one of us has the capacity to be an oppressor. I want to
encourage everyone to interrogate how we might be an oppressor and how
we might be able to become liberators for ourselves and for each
other.''
In the spirit of these words, let us forge ahead harnessing the power
of our collective talents and passions to drive change and create a
more just and equitable world for all. Let us not only celebrate his
achievements but also emulate his unwavering actions and dedication to
the cause of justice. Let us strive to become liberators for ourselves
and for each other, working tirelessly to ensure that the torch of
equality and freedom continue to burn brightly for generations to come.
May the life and legacy of Mr. Harry Belafonte serve as the guiding
light as we navigate the challenges that lie ahead. Together, let us
work toward a life and a world where justice, equality, and love will
prevail.
Mr. Speaker, God bless us all.
I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick).
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the third
time in opposition to Speaker McCarthy's debt ceiling brinksmanship,
which would deliver a crushing setback to the numerous successes of
President Biden and House Democrats.
Just look at how far we have come. Annual inflation has declined in
the last 9 months. Gas prices are much lower than the record highs we
saw in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. The price of
many foods like chicken and fruits and vegetables have declined in
March.
Labor force participation is at record-high levels. Unemployment has
reached a 50-year low of 3.5 percent. Within the Black community,
unemployment has never been this low.
Real income has risen both for low-income Americans and across the
economy as a whole. All the while, our deficit has dropped more than
$1.7 trillion in 2 years. We are not out of the woods yet. There is
always more we can do and could be done to reduce the financial burdens
faced by American families and making things even just a little bit
easier.
Let's give credit where credit is due. Since taking office, President
Biden has passed legislation that has created a strong foundation for
the economy to grow and he has invested in the middle class. The
administration has worked tirelessly to reduce the cost of living and
bringing down the cost of prices.
President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has also been
transformative, slashing kitchen table costs for working families,
forcing pharmaceutical companies to negotiate lower drug prices,
capping insulin at $35 per month for Medicare patients, and cutting
healthcare insurance premiums for millions of Americans.
President Biden's budget proposal stands in stark contrast to what
Speaker McCarthy has floated. It is bold, compassionate, and puts
working families over politics. Not only would President Biden's
proposal reduce the deficit by $3 trillion over the next 10 years, but
it does so while investing in our Nation. It lowers costs for working
families by making childcare, healthcare, and housing more affordable.
These are all things that are crucial to our economy and to the
American people at this present time.
Now is the time for my Republican colleagues to put aside partisan
politics and work with us to pass a budget that reinforces America's
promise to our constituents. House Republicans should not stand in the
way of this progress.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, you have heard from our
distinguished colleagues about the American debt cliff that we are
facing. All of these issues are of great importance to the
Congressional Black Caucus, our constituents, the Congress, and all
Americans tonight.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________