Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3058
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3058, TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE JUDICIARY, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - June 28, 2005)
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(Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, we have seen repeated appropriation bills moved through the House ignoring the priorities of Americans, including those residing in my hometown of Sacramento. With each bill, we see the negative impact of the Republican-passed budget resolution on the day-to-day lives of our constituents.
As we take up the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies appropriation bill, also known by some as the Throw the Leftovers Into One Tupperware Catch-all bill, we, yet again, see the bind the budget resolution has placed us in. We see the programs important to all of our constituents and our communities forced to compete against each other for limited funding, and we see these programs being gutted.
As it stands, this bill dismantles Amtrak, slashing funding by over half, threatening its long-term health. With 9.3 million passengers in California, Amtrak is extremely popular, especially in Sacramento. With the line closures and funding cuts, it will be impossible for Amtrak to continue to operate. After severance obligations and debt service pay, nothing would remain to continue running even the lines deemed successful. Further complicating the situation, the bill fails to even fund the minimum maintenance on tracks and trains necessary to keep the thriving lines operational.
I cannot begin to estimate the negative impact this will have. Businesses which rely on the dollars commuters spend in the community and the revitalization of the city, a transformation that is not exclusive to my hometown, will be affected. Because of Amtrak, Sacramentans are rediscovering downtown. And with funding from the Community Development Block Grants, the city is able to make needed improvements to downtown and the entire city, and that is a benefit to businesses and the overall economy of our region and State.
CDBG supports over two dozen projects improving Sacramento, but CDBG is not just throwing money at a city. In addition to improving the overall look of a city, it fosters a sense of community.
Earlier this year, I was home in Sacramento and participated in a program which receives money from CDBG called Rebuilding Together, an effort to rehabilitate homes for those with low and moderate incomes. Hundreds of people came out to give back to their community and neighborhood. And, because of their work, local senior citizens, who would otherwise find it challenging, received assistance to make the enhancements and repairs their homes need.
Because of funding from CDBG, Sacramento has a program to assist first-time home buyers with down payment and closing costs. We all know the benefits of homeownership to the community: improved neighborhoods, increased civic participation, and to the individual, tax benefits, increased wealth, and increased confidence.
Unfortunately, the misguided priorities of the Republican-passed budget mean cuts to funding for worthwhile programs like CDBG and Amtrak.
But this did not have to be the case. I was disappointed that an amendment offered by my good friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver) was not made in order by the Committee on Rules. It would have restored the necessary dollars to fund programs like Amtrak and CDBG by reducing the tax benefits of those with incomes over $1 million. Instead of receiving a tax break of $140,000, they would receive $131,000, a $9,000 reduction.
Because of the need for the Olver amendment and, importantly, the need to continue these defective programs, I would urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule governing this bill.
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