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

I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman. in fact. the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that limiting the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences on nonviolent drug offenders would have an overall net savings of $3 billion over 10 years. This is a budget that goes to the heart of the concerns of Americans who may not have the right start in life but deserve an opportunity. I want to be able to support a budget that. in essence. reduces the deficit and takes away sequestration. not piles taxes on persons who cannot afford them and creates very little jobs and undermines the social network that is necessary for those of us who believe we are. in fact. our brothers and sisters keeper. I ask you to support the Congressional Black Caucus budget. It is smart. it is strong. and it leads America forward. Mr. Chair. I rise in strong support of the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) offered by the Congressional Black Caucus to H. Con. Res. 27. the House Republicans "Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2016." I support the CBC Budget for four principal reasons: 1. It ends the threat of sequestration. 2. It will accelerate our economic recovery. 3. It will help eradicate poverty in America. and 4. It will reduce the deficit by approximately $1.9 trillion over 10 years. Mr. Chair. if we reject the House Republicans "Price Is Not Right" and "Work Harder to Get Less" Budget with its discredited economic gimmicks and unrealistic projections and adopt the CBC Budget. we will get instead a comprehensive jobs program totaling $500 billion over three years. The jobs created will accelerate our economic recovery and ensure that it reaches every community in America. while also making the necessary investments to ensure Americas longterm economic competitiveness. Specifically. the CBC Budget will create jobs by providing: 1. $100 billion to fund a National Direct Job Creation Program. 2. $50 billion for school Modernization. 3. $50 billion to assist local government hire and retain teachers. law enforcement and first responder Jobs. 4. $230 billion in immediate investment to rebuild our nations crumbling infrastructure. 5. $50 billion to rebuilding neighborhoods and communities not fully recovered from the Great Recession of 2008. 6. $13 billion for job training programs. and 7. $7 billion for summer jobs so young persons can save money to attend college and plan for their futures. Mr. Chair. when it comes to addressing the poverty that is still too prevalent in our country. the CBC Budget is clearly superior to the Republicans "Work Harder. Get Less" Budget. The CBC Budget provides for $300 billion for programs that have proven instrumental in lifting millions of Americans out of poverty. The funding provided will be used to restore cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. extend emergency unemployment insurance. expand access to affordable housing. increase access to quality and affordable education. and increase funding for job training and trade adjustment assistance programs. Additionally. Mr. Chair. to ensure that federal resources are targeted more efficiently towards eradicating poverty and are actually reaching communities most in need. the CBC budget proposes the codification of the "102030" policy for federal spending. Under the "102030" policy at least 10 percent of the federal funds in certain accounts are to be directed to areas that have had a poverty rate of 20 percent for the last 30 years. Finally. I support the CBC Budget because it puts an end to the draconian sequester burdening the economy and our people for the last several years. In addition. according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. it will reduce the deficit by approximately $1.9 trillion over 10 years. Mr. Chair. it is said often. but is no less true. that the federal budget is more than a financial document. it is an expression of the nations most cherished values. As the late and great former senator and VicePresident Hubert Humphrey said: The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life. the children. those who are in the twilight of life. the elderly. and those who are in shadows of life. the sick. the needy. and the handicapped. The Republican budget resolution fails this moral test. the CBC 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 CBC Budget.