Date: 2015-03-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I rise in strong support of the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) offered by the Congressional Progressive Caucus to H. Con. Res. 27. the House Republicans "Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2016." I support the CPCs ANS. "The Peoples Budget" because it fixes an economy that. for too long. has failed to provide the opportunities American families need to get ahead. Mr. Chair. if we reject the House Republicans "Price Is Not Right" Budget with its discredited and unworkable economic gimmicks and unrealistic projections and adopt the CPCs Peoples Budget. here is what we can expect: 1. 8.4 million good paying jobs by 2018. 2. $1.9 trillion investment in Americas future. and 3. $820 billion investment in infrastructure and transportation improvements. The Peoples Budget will usher in a new era of broadbased and shared prosperity by: 1. repealing the draconian sequester and all Budget Control Act spending caps. 2. increasing discretionary funding to invest in working families. 3. reversing harmful cuts to social safety net. and 4. investing in veterans. women. and working families. Under the Peoples Budget. millions of working families will see an increase in their purchasing power because the budget: 1. creates more than 8 million good jobs by 2018. 2. includes a four percent raise for federal workers. 3. provides for paid leave and child care. 4. supports an increase in the minimum wage increase and collective bargaining. and 5. fully funds programs to make housing affordable and accessible for all Americans. Mr. Chair. Americans cannot reach their full potential if they lack educational opportunities. health security. or are saddled with crushing educational debts. That is why the CPCs Peoples Budget invests in K12 and provides free preschool. and provides debtfree college to every student and refinancing of student loans on terms favorable to students trying to get ahead. not banks. The CPCs Peoples Budget repeals the excise tax on highpriced workers plans. removes the prohibition barring CMS to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients. and reauthorizes the Childrens Health Insurance Program. Mr. Chair. because the Peoples Budget is for all persons in our country. it adopts comprehensive immigration reform and welcomes the substantial economic benefits it will generate. Everyone knows that our current outdated immigration laws have failed workers. families. businesses and increasingly. our nations immigrants. Employers are unable to hire the workers they need. Immigrant workers are exploited. Families trying to reunite legally are separated for many years. and millions of individuals are forced to live in the shadows. The Peoples Budget helps immigrants integrate into American society and participate in the economy by becoming entrepreneurs. small business owners. innovators and future job creators. With comprehensive immigration reform. the federal budget deficit will be reduced by $197 billion over the next decade and $700 billion over the next 20 years according to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Mr. Chair. I could go on at length explaining why the CPCs Peoples Budget is superior to the House Republicans "Worker Harder. Get Less" budget. But let me conclude by noting that in evaluating the merits of a budget resolution. it is not enough to subject it only to the test of fiscal responsibility. To keep faith with the nations past. to be fair to the nations present. and to safeguard the nations future. the budget must also pass a "moral test." The Republican budget resolution fails both of these standards. the CPCs Peoples Budget does not. For these reasons. I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting the House Republicans budget and voting for a better alternative. the CPCs Peoples Budget. The Acting CHAIR . The question is on the amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from Minnesota