Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011

Floor Speech

Mr. DICKS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the CR before us runs through November 18. The CR continues funding at last year's level minus 1.053 percent to ensure that spending is limited to $1.043 trillion, the amount agreed to in the Budget Control Act.

Democrats voted ``no'' previously for two reasons: We strongly oppose taking funding from the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program. This is a program that has proven to be a success in creating jobs. The Department of Energy estimates the loan guarantees have created or maintained 39,000 jobs in California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Tennessee. The pending applications will help create more jobs. The money received by the companies is paid back to the government with interest. We also strongly oppose the notion that efforts to help Americans rebuild their lives after floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters should be put on hold until Congress can agree on offsetting reductions in spending.

FY12 has begun, so there is no need for FY11 disaster relief funding in the CR. In earlier versions, House Republicans had insisted on offsetting FY11 disaster relief funding. The CR under consideration today no longer cuts funding for ATVM and does not require an offset.

I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Source