Date: 2003-03-20
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I rise today to commend the House Budget Committee and Chairman NUSSLES leadership in crafting a Budget Resolution that epitomizes fiscal discipline and brings important tax relief and job creation to hard working American families. This Resolution will also protect Americans both here and abroad as we continue to face the challenges of the War on Terrorism. It Is too common in this chamber that Members talk about reducing spending. creating jobs. protecting Americans and providing common sense tax relief without a willingness to make the important changes. Unfortunately. rhetoric does not produce results. This Budget Resolution symbolizes a strong commitment to make the needed reforms in spending that this body has been promising. This resolution is fiscally responsible and outlines a plan to balance the budget in nine years. while bringing important tax relief to American families. This Resolution calls for a one percent reduction in growth. except for social security. defense.- Medicare and Veterans and homeland security funding. By no means is this approach radical. This Budget Resolution allocates $200 billion over the next 10 years for Medicare with an additional $400 billion for Medicare modernization and prescription drug coverage. Veterans spending will increase by $844 million in Fiscal Year 2004. Education. Defense. Homeland Security and many other agencies will receive significant increases under this plan. A one percent reduction in growth will allow for the elimination of waste. fraud and inefficiencies that consistently plagues federal spending. Locating this abuse is no great challenge for most agency budgets and eliminating it should be our obligation. The Budget Resolution also provides for sound growth policy that will stimulate our economy. provide jobs to Americans and reduce the tax burden on American families. For example. the budget resolution assumes the 2001 tax cuts are made permanent and accommodates the entire growth plan proposed by President Bush. President Bushs growth plan is vital to stimulating our weak economy and creating jobs for Americans. This includes the permanent elimination of the marriage penalty tax. the death tax and the double taxation of dividends. The elimination of the double taxation of dividends. alone. will provide an average of 500.000 jobs a year and will greatly help the 52 percent of Americanshalf of which are seniorsthat are invested in the stock market. The Presidents Growth Plan will also provide job opportunities to unemployed Americans throughout the nation. In Florida. alone. 248.500 jobs will be created over the next four years as a direct result to the policies of President Bushs Growth Plan. Small businessesthe foundation of Americas economywould also receive important tax savings under Presidents Growth Package. In fact. 23 million small businesses will receive tax cuts averaging $2.042 under this plan. Unfortunately. the only plans the Democrats are offering would spend irresponsibly and raise taxes. This is not only an injustice to the American economy. but a great injustice to American families that rely on tax relief during rough economic times. I came to Congress promising my constituents that I would support tax relief and the concept of fiscal discipline. There is no piece of legislation that outlines a plan that accurately adheres to these principles better than the Budget Resolution we have before us. Todays vote will cleariy indicate who restrains spending and provides tax relief and who only talks about it. I look forward to sending a clear message to America that the days of rhetoric are overwe are going to control spending. provide tax relief to hardworking families and open thb door to employment opportunities for millions of Americans.