[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22416]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            FUNDING CHOICES

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I think it is certainly 
important for this body to be fiscally responsible, but let me share 
with Members that in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there are 
cities and towns in rural areas that cannot pay their bills. It is a 
matter of choices. We have to look at a new way to deal with the Iraq 
war and Afghanistan and stop the spiraling spending of $480 billion.
  The reason I say that is because some of the unsung heroes of 
Hurricane Katrina, although they do not want applause, deserve so. Even 
though I voted for the Department of Homeland Security appropriations, 
I know we are not funding homeland security enough. The Coast Guard has 
saved over 23,000 individuals, fire fighters and police, those who did 
not walk away from their jobs. Citizen Corps has been found out to be 
one of the best means of homeland security where we train neighborhoods 
to secure themselves. All of that needs enhanced homeland security 
funding.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have to make choices, but we should not be 
cutting the budget now.

                          ____________________