Concurrent Resolution on the Budget, Fiscal Year 2016

Floor Speech

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, before I briefly outline my amendments, I
need to say a few words about the budget before us.

The vision outlined in the budget before us is truly a disaster for
the middle class and our economy. This budget lays out priorities that
would undermine the gains that millions have made in getting affordable
health insurance. It would undermine the ability of millions of
students to get a college education. It puts tax cuts for the wealthy
ahead of giving even a modest wage boost to those who are working hard
to get ahead. This budget would give big corporations the opportunity
to write their own rules while reducing the opportunity for the
disabled veterans and children to live a decent life.

Democrats have tried to improve this budget. We tried to eliminate
the sequester in a fair way. Republicans said no. We tried to make sure
our commitments to those on Social Security and Medicare remain
ironclad. The Republicans said no. We tried to close a few loopholes to
invest in our communities and create jobs. The Republicans said no. We
tried to give students the opportunity to get an affordable college
education. The Republicans said no.

Given all these problems, I cannot support this budget. This budget
favors the wealthy and special interests on the backs of middle-class
families, seniors, and students in Hawaii and across the Nation, but I
want to offer two ideas that I hope can improve this budget just a
little bit.

Amendment No. 877 would restore year-round Pell grants without
increasing the deficit. Many college students juggle work and family
schedules. To balance these commitments they need to attend college
year-round. But Pell grants can only be used in two semesters,
currently.

My amendment would allow students to access Pell grants year-round,
as they could from 2008 to 2011. This has been a bipartisan idea in the
past. In fact, Senator Collins just now offered her similar amendment,
amendment No. 810, that I also support. We should adopt this
commonsense, bipartisan policy.

I thank Senator Collins for her work in enabling students to complete
their college education in a way that would allow them to do so without
disruptions and additional costs. I look forward to working with her as
we move forward on this bipartisan-supported idea.

The second amendment I am offering, amendment No. 878, is very simple
as well. The budget resolution allows for energy legislation, provided
it is paid for only with cuts. It also lays out what I think is a very
limited view of our Nation's energy priorities, particularly the heavy
focus on fossil fuel development. My amendment would provide a broader,
more forward-looking view of our Nation's energy priorities. My
amendment allows for energy legislation that reduces our dependence on
foreign oil, increases energy efficiency and renewable energy
deployment and innovation, and addresses carbon pollution.

Hawaii relies on imported oil for energy. The U.S. military
recognizes that overreliance on fossil fuel is a national security
risk. We have to recognize our future can't be based on fossil fuels.

Hawaii and other States are leading the way in transitioning to a
clean energy economy. My amendment would ensure that Congress's
priorities are more in line with where Hawaii and our Nation are
heading in the future. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting
these two amendments.

I yield the floor.

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I did raise an objection to the change,
although I appreciate the fact that the Senator made that change.

I rise to oppose amendment No. 360 which would roll back critical
antitrafficking and humanitarian protections for children from Central
America. Last summer I led a congressional delegation to the Rio Grande
Valley border to view the humanitarian crisis of unaccompanied children
from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Clearly, concrete cells at
Border Patrol stations are no place for children, which is where they
likely would be under the expedited deportation proceedings allowed
under this amendment. These young children are fleeing danger and
violence in their own home countries. It is also no answer to require
these children to seek asylum in their home countries while being
exposed to the very violence they are trying to escape in the first
place.

This is the portion of the amendment the Senator has eliminated. It
still doesn't leave out the part about expedited deportation. So let's
keep the current law in place that--

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Ms. HIRONO. We voted for this law unanimously, signed by President
Bush. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

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