Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2017, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule that is on the floor today because voting for this rule is a vote to abolish Medicare.

Here we are, once again, after the public has spoken so clearly on this subject of wanting to have Medicare as a pillar of health and economic security for our seniors, the Republicans saying we're going to double down. Not only did we vote to abolish Medicare, increasing costs for seniors, lowering benefits while giving tax breaks to oil companies and corporations for shipping jobs overseas, not only have we done that once, but we're going to do it again today, on a day that we're going to swear in a new Member of Congress, a reminder that all of us takes an oath of office to protect and defend.

And this bill, the bill that this rule comes up on, Homeland Security, undermines the ability to protect and defend the American people.

So, this is a double whammy. It's a threat, again, to the health and economic security of our seniors and those who depend on Medicare, and it is a threat to the safety of the American people.

I heard my colleague, Mr. Markey, talk about purgatory and rapture and the rest in his original and effective presentation, and it reminded me what we always say when we talk about a budget: that it should be a statement of our values. What is important to us should be reflected there.

Our budget proposals--we had one under the leadership of Chris Van Hollen that was heard and voted on by the floor a number of weeks ago; a Republican budget that is on the floor today in the form of this rule--are windows to the soul of whom we are as public officials. And this rule today which deems passage of the Republican budget is a window to the soul of the Republican Party and this House of Representatives.

Giving tax subsidies to Big Oil would benefit corporations that shift jobs overseas and would give tax cuts to the wealthiest people in our country while it says to seniors, No more Medicare for you. You're going to pay more, get less, and weaken the middle class at the same time, weakening the middle class because of abolishing Medicare and weakening the middle class because of what it does to education for our young children and making college more expensive for nearly 10 million young people in our country.

Is that an investment in the future?

I don't think so.

But it's really important when we talk about our soul and our values and what our priorities are that we note that a vote for this bill is a really serious assault on the middle class. People are concerned about the dignity and retirement of our seniors. They are concerned about the education of our children. They want to reduce the deficit. We must create jobs. Growth in our economy will help reduce the deficit. This bill does none of the above.

So, again, it's about what we believe in.

Mr. Speaker, I have to give you credit for this, that the Republicans are true to what they believe in. They do not believe in Medicare, and they are voting today to honor their beliefs to abolish Medicare. That has been a consistent message over time. It is reinforced here today.

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