OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Further Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2011

Floor Speech

Date: March 1, 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security

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(Ms. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the rule on this continuing resolution that the Republicans have brought forward. Why? Number one, it's for 14 days. Can you imagine one of the most powerful economies in this country and we are talking about doing kind of in a pause mode for 14 days? That's not very responsible.

But let's get to the specifics of why I am opposed to this. This CR would slash $340 million for construction jobs for projects of the Army Corps. Now, I just heard the previous speaker talk about private jobs. Are we prepared to say that this government, we don't think there should be any Federal Government jobs? So are you to tell me that in my district, where I have two ports, the largest ports in the Nation, that we don't need to do dredging, that we can just have ships run afoul? I mean, how are we going to continue our economy?

I support cuts. If you check my record, you will see that I have supported many of the initiatives that have been brought forward. But they need to be thoughtful, and they need to make sense. A few others that concern me greatly: A slash of $20 million to the Department of Homeland Security. What are we thinking here? Haven't we learned anything from Hurricane Katrina or 9/11? That we would suggest a cut, $103 million of FEMA State and local programs that would provide grants to avoid disasters and how we prepare for them. Cut $129 million from higher education.

I would ask, what is this 14 days about? We have talked about that we are prepared, everyone's going to come here and make these cuts. Well, let's have a real civil discussion, and let's build upon last week, but let's not do it on the backs of the American people. There is waste that can be addressed. And I look forward to supporting those initiatives. But this 14-day pause button is the wrong way, and I am opposed to it.

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