Recognizing the Significance of Community College Month in April

Floor Speech

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 4884 and ask that it be reported by number.

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, Republicans' budget resolution would provide another $140 billion for immigration enforcement. With that amount Republicans have proposed, Democrats could fully fund Federal programs for low-income students, fully fund Federal programs for students with disabilities, quadruple Federal funding for afterschool programs, double the Pell grant maximum award, and provide universal free school meals for all students.

That is why my amendment with Senator Van Hollen would ensure that, before we give another blank check to ICE and CBP without any guardrails, we ensure funding for free school meals so every child has the nutritious food they need to learn and grow.

Republicans could easily do this, but they would rather spend our tax dollars on lawless immigration enforcement and illegal wars.

Budgets are about priorities. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment and showing that our Nation's children are worth prioritizing.

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and a waiver of provisions of applicable budget resolutions, I move to waive all applicable sections of that act and applicable budget points of order for the purposes of the pending measure.

Vote on Motion

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