[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25298]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         BUDGET RECONCILIATION

  (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, this week this House will consider a 
budget bill that contains changes in the farm bill that will adversely 
affect and impact the environment, the poor and the hungry, and the 
pocketbooks of farm families. While farmers are struggling with high 
prices for gas, propane, natural gas and fertilizer, the Republican 
budget breaks the promise of the farm bill.
  While working families are confronting higher fuel prices, the 
Republican bill severely cuts food stamps, forcing families to choose 
between food and heat for their homes. I strongly support tough budget 
discipline to rein in the budget deficit, but this bill does the very 
opposite.
  Regardless of whether they cut $39 billion or $50 billion, it is not 
enough to offset the $70 billion in lost revenue from their tax bill. 
At the end of the day, the Republican reconciliation bill will only 
worsen the deficit and leave our children with a higher debt. I urge my 
colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bad bill.

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