Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2016

Floor Speech

Mr. Chair, I support the CBC Alternative Budget for Fiscal Year 2016.

As has been highlighted during today's debate, the Federal budget is a blueprint for our nation. It is a statement of our national priorities and of our national values.

Our budget should lay the groundwork to secure a strong middle class, create more jobs, and grow paychecks.
We should be working to create a level playing field for all Americans.

We cannot continue with these short-term fixes which lately have become all too common in Congress.
For instance, in May, the Highway Trust Fund is set to expire--again.

Yet, more than sixty-five percent of America's roads are in need of repair and the American Society of Civil Engineers has given our nation's infrastructure a D in its most recent report card.

We could be creating thousands of jobs--from real estate to construction work--if we got serious about investing in infrastructure.

As the conscious of the Congress. The CBC budget focuses on creating jobs and giving hard-working Americans families a fair-share.

Our CBC budget would provide $230 billion for our nation's infrastructure--providing an immediate investment to help modernize our roads, bridges, and tunnels, as well as providing dollars to build new and improve existing commuter and public transportation systems.

We cannot delay or rely on short term funding patches that seem to become the norm in this Republican led Congress.

Mr. Chair, when we rebuild our roads and modernize our nation's transportation, we create and maintain good-paying jobs.

That's the best investment we can make of taxpayer dollars. Not only do we keep Americans safe, but we invest in our greatest resource--the American worker. That's what I call a bang for your buck.

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