hazylavender/hi huggingface dataset:
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mrs. HAYES: I rise in strong opposition to the default on America act because I did not come to Congress to starve children. Thirty-four million Americans struggle with food insecurity, 9 million of which are children. This bill would strip millions of hardworking Americans of benefits by expanding so-called work requirements in SNAP. SNAP already has a work requirement for individuals ages 18 to 49, but Republicans want to expand this to older Americans and seniors who face age discrimination in the workplace already. It is also important to note that the House subcommittee in charge of nutrition programs, the one who would be in charge of this, has yet to hold one hearing. So while proposing work requirements, the Committee on Nutrition has yet to begin work. It is horrifying that Republicans are choosing to hold the economy hostage and using vulnerable families as a bargaining tool. I urge my colleagues to have some compassion and vote against this devastating legislation.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. ARRINGTON: with all due respect to my friend and colleague, we are trapping millions of people in poverty and dependence on the government because we are not incentivizing people to move up and out of welfare so they can realize their greatest God-given potential. It is not compassionate to not expect the best out of our fellow Americans. President Biden, when he voted to support commonsense welfare-to-work reforms said this: We need to replace the culture of welfare with the culture of work. We need to replace the culture of dependency with the culture of self-sufficiency. I agree with the Joe Biden that said that then. I hope he will come to his senses, come to the table, and do what he did in 2011: include responsible fiscal reforms as we lift the debt ceiling and pay our bills. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. NUNN : Americans are demanding action. The President cannot put forth a budget that is 55 percent higher than it was at prepandemic levels. We must get together and work with what Chairman Arrington and the Speaker and House Republicans have put forward: A budget that holds our government accountable, a budget that addresses the debt ceiling now, gets Federal spending under control, and grows our economy by letting Americans keep more of the money they have earned. That is why I am honored as part of the Iowa delegation to hold firm in that America's fiscal security, energy security, and food security can be led with us. In Iowa, we will not allow government to balance its budget on the backs of America's farmers. That is why I am proud that this bill makes critical investments in biofuels. Biofuels empower American energy independence. Biofuel infrastructure decreases the cost of fuels overseas and helps our families at the pump. Biofuels grow our Main Street businesses. Biofuels empower our farmers for what they need to both feed and fuel the world. I salute the Iowans and the Americans who have worked to balance their own budgets every month, those who don't spend tirelessly and put it on their credit card.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Vermont (Ms. Balint), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. BALINT: I rise in opposition to H.R. 2811, the default on America act. A budget reflects our values, and we can plainly see where the Republicans' priorities lie. They are threatening default with catastrophic consequences, and why? Why? So they can secure 10 years of devastating cuts that American families depend on. Those programs will be devastated. Republicans have to abandon this dangerous path. America pays our bills. We must prevent default as we have done countless times under Democratic and Republican Presidents, including President Trump. A default will be a terrible blow to low-income and middle-income Americans. They don't care about these reckless political games. They care about how disastrous a default will be on them in their quest to buy a house or lease a car or pay for college. They don't care about this. They care about results. I sit on the Budget Committee and have a front row seat to this nonsense. We have to pay our bills, and we have to reject the ransom note.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. ARRINGTON: I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague. A budget is a vision and a statement of values. We have received the President's budget. We are conducting oversight. We will be presenting our full 10-year budget resolution. I can tell you; it will be starkly different than the President's and the Democratic Party's vision for America's future. This budget will not ask for $100 billion more in discretionary spending while American families are struggling to buy groceries and put gas in their cars. It is just so out of touch. We need the kind of leadership that will lean in and say we are going to be an example and that we are going to look for the waste, which is not hard to find in this town. We are going to right the ship and restore fiscal responsibility. The President, also, as part of his value statement adds trillions of dollars--$65 trillion--in taxes over the 10-year horizon, which is the most that any President has ever proposed in the history of our country. He proposes spending to the tune of a quarter of our entire economy, which is the largest economy in the world. That is larger than any year of spending since we invaded Normandy. That is what our President is doing and putting forth as the Democratic Party's vision for this future in the midst of this economy that is struggling. Families are struggling. This debt crisis looms large on the horizon. Where is the leadership? I respect my colleagues. I appreciate their friendship, but this is the moment that we have to step up and put our fellow countrymen first and walk in their shoes and not get caught up in trying to protect with a death grip the blank check that we have seen and the endless money that is being printed and borrowed. It will end poorly. We have this window of mercy to act, and we have got to act together ultimately for this to be sustainable because this is the first step. It will require many more steps. We didn't get here overnight. We won't get out of it overnight. We have to take the first step together. I implore my friends and my colleagues to come with us and do what has been done so many times. That is the thing, Mr. Speaker. Eight of the last most meaningful, most significant fiscal reforms in this Congress came as a result and at the same time we were negotiating a debt ceiling. It is not wild, and it is not reckless. It is responsible to do that. You can raise the debt ceiling. You can pay your bills. You can protect the future for your children. That is leadership, and that is what this country needs in this hour. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.  {time}  1515
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : first, I thank my friend, Mr. Arrington, and truly, we have been friends for our entire time of service here. I respect his sincerity and how committed he is on this issue. I say to him, and I hope he will take this under consideration, that it is so irresponsible to use the debt ceiling in this way. Here is the analogy. I mentioned three times we raised the debt ceiling with a Republican President. Imagine if, in one of those debt ceiling debates, this side of the aisle said: ``Well, we care deeply about raising the minimum wage. Right now, we have the longest period in American history, for as long as the minimum wage has existed, without an increase, about 15 years.'' What if this side of the aisle said: ``We are not going to vote for a debt limit increase. We are going to use this as leverage, and in return, you need to raise the minimum wage, or you need to expand Medicare to those 55 and older.'' That would be irresponsible, as well. The debt ceiling is about past spending that both sides often voted for, that Presidents of both parties signed into law. Now, if we want to have a conversation about future spending, we welcome that. We will negotiate on that, but we will not negotiate on whether or not America pays its bills, period. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. ARRINGTON: let me say how blessed I feel to serve alongside my ranking member. I appreciate his thoughtful comments, and we are going to do a lot of great things together. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), my fellow Budget Committee member.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CARTER : I thank the gentleman for yielding. Let me begin by thanking leadership and, particularly, the chair of the Budget Committee for all of their hard work in putting this together. Let me also say that my colleague on the other side of the aisle talks about fiscal irresponsibility. Well, if you want to talk about fiscal irresponsibility, you only need to look at the White House and what this administration has done. Day one, they declared war on fossil fuels. You can make the argument, and a valid argument, that what has happened in our economy is a self-inflicted wound brought about by this war on fossil fuels that caused an increase in gas prices, that caused an increase in inflation, that caused an increase in interest rates and put this economy in the shambles that it is in right now. Since the first day of the administration, this Biden administration has recklessly spent taxpayer dollars. As a result, as I say, you see inflation at record highs, stealing money and opportunities from hardworking Americans. Our credit cards are maxed out. The gentleman talks about future spending. That is what this is about, limiting future spending. That is the conversation we are having.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. OMAR: for a long time Republicans spent so much time saying they were going to address the economic anxiety families were feeling, but overnight, they dreamed up a dangerous economic bill that would plunge families into economic depression. Republicans say they want to grow the economy, but their bill will destroy 8,000 jobs in my district alone and 7 million across this country. They say they want to invest in children, but this bill eliminates childcare access for 4,000 kids in my State and 180,000 nationwide. They talk nonstop about rail safety, yet this bill would cut at least 160 rail inspection days in Minnesota and 7,000 nationwide. They are not repealing the Bush-Trump tax cuts because what their bill is going to do is do wealth transfer from working and middle-class families to billionaires and millionaires. This is hypocrisy, and it is full of lies. Corporations should not be put ahead of our families.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. ARRINGTON: leadership isn't easy, and boy, does our Nation need it right now. I know of such a leader. His name is   Steve Scalise. He is our majority leader and a champion for freedom and fiscal responsibility. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : listening to all of the doom and gloom from the previous speaker, you might forget for a moment that right now, in the world, the greatest economic recovery from COVID is that of the United States of America, with the greatest job growth in my lifetime. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Levin).
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. LEVIN: I rise to remind my colleagues of both parties that the legislation before us could do irreparable harm to our Nation's veterans. This bill would force a 22 percent cut to nondefense spending. That would slash $30 billion from veterans' services. That means 30 million veterans will have fewer healthcare visits, fewer staff, an increased claims backlog, and longer wait times for benefits. That is the uncertainty that awaits veterans should this bill succeed. Just last month, during a committee hearing, my Republican colleagues assured us they didn't want to reduce benefits for veterans. I heard it firsthand, so I was troubled to learn that this bill completely fails to protect veterans from its cuts. Yesterday, 24 veteran and military service organizations sent a letter urging Congress not to pass this legislation.  I am dismayed that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are prepared to force a default and devastate our economy if we don't go along with it. Please don't do this. Don't hold our Nation's veterans hostage.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. CRAIG: today's debate is perhaps one of the most dangerous games to be perpetrated in my time in Congress by the radical right. This bill risks our economy, our Nation's credit rating, American jobs, retirement savings, and healthcare access. Mr. Speaker, there is a proposal on the table, raise the debt ceiling, full stop, just like we did under the former President. Then let's have a robust debate about spending in a budget debate and in the appropriations process. But that is not what the radical right has put on the floor today. I cannot support a bill that would cut funding for our Nation's veterans, would cut funding to Minnesota public schools, would cost jobs, and economists say would increase the likelihood of a recession. This is not a serious bill from the radical right, and there is no more serious issue facing our country right now than the prospect of defaulting on our debt. This is a dangerous game my colleagues are playing, and it needs to be cut out.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. TRONE: I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote against the extremist Republicans' default on our debt act. The legislation, offered by Speaker McCarthy, really begs the question: Is this what we stand for? The default on our debt act means a 22 percent cut to our education system, our students, and our Nation's competitiveness. Is this what we stand for? It means a 22 percent cut to the VA, cutting law enforcement, including healthcare for America's brave; cuts to State grants to fund the prosecution against domestic violence. Is this what we stand for? It makes a 22 percent cut to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children that feeds 53 percent of the infants in the U.S. and ensures they have nutritious food to survive. Is this what we stand for? It is certainly not what I stand for, and I plan to vote ``no'' on the legislation.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY: I brought my Constitution with me because the Constitution is very clear that it is the duty of the United States of America to pay its debts. Somehow, it doesn't say a darn thing about how you can negotiate to hold the whole economy hostage and threaten the economy of the United States of America before you are willing to pay the debts. Under President Trump, as I am sure it was said before, three times the debt ceiling was raised. Yet, you are saying now, at the same time Donald Trump gave a $2 trillion tax cut to the wealthiest Americans, but don't blame him for the deficit. Let's talk about these poor people who are trying to get healthcare or put food on the table for their families or the veterans who are seeing a cut in their healthcare. No way. Vote ``no'' on this terrible, mean proposal.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. PANETTA: I rise in opposition to the Limit, Save, and Grow Act. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee and Budget Committee, as much as I want to take serious steps to lower our debt and deficit, this legislation is not serious, it is not bipartisan, and it leaves us with a partisan hit list. I say that because of the way it is written. It would increase hunger and deprive low-income citizens of healthcare. It would make significant cuts to critical government services that could lead to the loss of 780,000 jobs. It would cut IRS funding needed to close the tax gap and collect taxes owed. It would do nothing to raise revenues, and it would do nothing to find common ground on permitting reform. It would target the cornerstone of the industrial policy that we created last term to lower our carbon output by repealing clean energy tax credits. Solutions to the debt crisis need to be serious, not partisan. This bill brings us closer to default by demanding partisan policies that will never pass the Senate. I will vote ``no'' on this bill, but I do look forward to raising the debt ceiling and then having serious conversations about how we can ensure that Congress gets serious about a solution to our debt and deficit reduction.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ: as my distinguished colleague, Representative Connolly from the State of Virginia, says: well, well, well. Several years ago, we warned during the Trump tax cuts, that this dramatic decrease in revenue would explode the Nation's debt. We heard from the Republican side: No, let us write off our yachts; let us write off our private jets. We said that this decrease in revenue would explode our national debt. But instead of now realizing the error of our ways and reversing these tax cuts for the wealthy, we are now seeing the Republican side promote a bill that cuts student loan cancellation, veterans' healthcare, cancer research, opioid treatment, Meals on Wheels, and more. The debt limit is about meeting our obligations already voted for, that Republicans and Democrats have already voted for. If we want to cut and make changes to programming in the future, we may do that, but threatening to tank the economy is not how you do it.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BOYLE : I yield myself the balance of my time for closing. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman on the other side for this vigorous debate. Again, I would remind all of us about what is involved in the DOA act: the single biggest cut to nondefense programs in American history. It would, according to Moody's Analytics, lead to 800,000 job losses by the end of 2024 and a dramatically increased likelihood of a recession. It would do absolutely nothing to solve the real problems that we have in our society. Mr. Speaker, this is not good policy for the American people. This will jeopardize the record job growth that we are currently experiencing.  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of this House to make the DOA act exactly that, dead on arrival. Vote ``no.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1979-H2039] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. SMITH : I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.