Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008

Floor Speech

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 99, the House Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2008. This bill proves that a responsible budget can both reflect the values of our country and ensure the growth of our economy.

For all too long the voice of the American people has not been heard in this Congress. Today, I am proud to say that the new Democratic-led Congress is listening and we are delivering. We have brought a budget to the floor that begins to reverse six years of harmful cuts and reckless fiscal policy, and invests in the Nation's future. This budget supports programs that help more working families help themselves. It keeps our promises to our children, seniors, and veterans.

Unlike the Administration's budget, this carefully crafted budget brings down the deficit by $234 billion over the next 5 years and balances it by 2012. It supports middle-class tax cuts and sets up a reserve fund for a long-term fix for the AMT--a tax that will effect over 580,000 Connecticut families in 2007. The bill also creates a reserve fund of up to $14 billion over 10 years for investments in clean, renewable alternative energy that is paid for by redirecting oil company subsidies.

This budget refuses to leave children behind--it provides $7.9 billion more in funding for education, which means more funding for No Child Left Behind, special education, and aid to help students afford college. The bill also includes a $50 billion reserve fund to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, to cover the more than 9 million children without health insurance, including the nearly 73,000 uninsured children in Connecticut. In addition, this budget ensures veterans receive the care that is worthy of their sacrifice. It provides $3.5 billion more this year to provide quality health care for veterans, repair VA health care facilities, and improve the accuracy and time of processing disability claims.

Our budget rejects the President's proposed cuts to Medicare and homeland security grants. Our budget refuses to increase the deficit. Our budget refuses to ``stay the course'' of the Bush Administration.

Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the underlying bill, a budget that reflects the values and priorities of the American people.

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