Date: 2010-12-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise in support of making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2011. This measure will continue to assure funding for all Federal Government agencies and allow the Government to continue its day to day operations through March 4. 2011. provided under Public Law 111242. the first fiscal year 2011 Continuing Resolution (CR). This Continuing Resolution will basically fund the Government at levels previously approved by the House for fiscal year 2010. It is of great importance that this Congress continues to decide how best to finalize fiscal year 2011 spending and explore ways to equitably decrease the national deficit. As a Member of Congress. it is a critical constitutional responsibility to assure continued funding streams for the Federal Government. This Continuing Resolution will ensure that all necessary and key functions of Government will continue unimpeded until Congress finalizes our work with the passage of final appropriations legislation. There have been a few exceptions. but at least one Continuing Resolution has been enacted for each fiscal year since 1955. As we rapidly approach the holiday season. and the end of the year is only 10 days away. there is no greater business before this chamber than keeping our Federal Government up and running. Especially during this crucial time of transition. the citizens of the United States are depending upon us to keep the Federal Government fully operational. We must provide a sense of certainty and stability as our country continues to recover from recession and remains engaged in two wars abroad. I must say that I am very disturbed that we cannot get our colleagues to cooperate in a bipartisan manner to pass essential appropriations bills and must instead resort to shortterm continuing resolutions. However. with the funding for all Federal agencies and programs set to expire at midnight tonight. it is imperative that we pass this Continuing Resolution. It is crucial that we continue to fund Government agencies and programs without interruption. We must keep this Nation moving forward toward progress. In recent days and months. unnecessary partisan battles in both chambers have been waged over expenditures included in appropriations measures. Partisan fingerpointing and squabbling have hindered the passage of appropriations bills and had a negative impact on our economic recovery. This Continuing Resolution has suffered the same fate. I would like to remind all of my colleagues that appropriations are builtin by law to permit Members of Congress to identify and provide funding for useful and necessary projects in their districts. Specifically. in my home district of Houston. I fought hard to include in the Continuing Resolution. a total of $175.595.558 in appropriations funding for fiscal year 2011. These projects create jobs. rebuild our infrastructure and benefit our districts. our States and our country. as well. Though I recommended funding for critical transportation and infrastructure projects in Houston. Texas. unfortunately this funding was excluded from the Continuing Resolution. Though an opportunity to improve our national economy was lost. I will continue to fight for the funding of such useful. necessary and economically productive projects in Houston and support the funding of these types of projects nationwide. Overall. the Continuing Resolution will generally benefit the citizens of Houston and the entire country by continuing to fund important government programs without interruption. As we move forward. it is my hope that both chambers in the House and Senate will take a bipartisan approach to moving vitally important appropriations legislation which includes useful. necessary. job creating and economybuilding projects from our districts. This is the fiscally responsible course and grows and strengthens our economy in the long run. In summation. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this Continuing Resolution as we continue the work of the Federal Government.