Condemning Chaotic and Harmful Failings of This Congress

Floor Speech

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Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, we are going to adjourn and not do the peoples' business because we have thus far gotten an ``F.'' An ``F'' for the work of the people in this Congress. We have taken health care away from hundreds of thousands of people. We have taken SNAP payments and nutritional sustenance, away from tens and hundreds of thousands of people. We have made injuries to the Earth, God's Earth we are here to preserve, and we only use. We have taken away from women the right to go to Planned Parenthood to have health care that they need. We have taken away protections for clean energy to change the rate of growth of global warming that affects our planet and affects our future with hotter and hotter summers, flash floods, fires and disasters. It will increase our reliance on fossil fuels, which make the air dirtier and people sicker, all while we are taking away people's health care. This Congress has earned an ``F.'' We do not deserve a better grade.

I am ashamed to be a part of this Congress, but I will stay because people need to stand up, speak the truth, stand up for things the American people have always stood for: justice, due process, the rule of law, fairness, caring about the little guy, caring about giving people something when they need it, but not giving something to people who have too much--millionaires and billionaires.

Just think, Mr. Speaker, of the harm the rescissions bill did to public broadcasting--NPR and PBS--legacies of President Johnson's Great Society that help our citizens stay informed. Think of the harm done to life-saving foreign aid that keeps children fed and vaccinated from dreadful diseases that can and will cross our borders in check. And the Big Ugly Bill does substantial harm to critical programs and to the people who rely on them, so millionaires can get a tax break and the rest of the country gets huge and endless deficits and trillions more in debt.

Newsweek reported this week that the current Congress is one of the least effective ever, passing only 27 bills since January 3, far fewer than in previous Congresses at the same point. Unfortunately, the biggest, ugliest bill we passed, and the rescissions package will contribute to incalculable pain, suffering, and death all around the world.

Come to think of it, maybe this Congress should get something worse than a grade of ``F.'' Maybe those voting for these cruel and dangerous provisions should be sent to the principal's office and expelled.

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