Congressional Black Caucus

Floor Speech

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Ms. FUDGE. I thank my friend for yielding, and I would like to thank my colleagues, Congressmen Jeffries and Horsford, for once again leading the Congressional Black Caucus Special Order Hour.

Mr. Speaker, this week, the House and Senate conferees will begin deliberations to produce a budget for the first time in 4 years. Mr. Speaker, these deliberations, which are long overdue, are critical because they may provide a long-term plan that will continue to move our country forward out of our economic recession and towards a stronger America. There is a long overdue discussion needed.

For so many around this country, the barriers to economic opportunity and mobility have become insurmountable. The American people are looking to Congress to provide leadership and to turn our economy around. Unfortunately, some in Congress have put austerity before economic recovery, draining resources that might otherwise have improved our economic outlook.

While many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are focused on shrinking the government at any cost, the CBC is focused on making our government smarter and its programs more efficient. It is time to prioritize projects that will not only turn our country's economy around, but that will also open the doors of opportunity for future generations.

No longer can we ignore high levels of unemployment among those living in poverty and the disproportionately high unemployment rates among people of color.

We cannot pretend that our current investments in education are sufficient, while report after report details our country's academic shortcomings and our declining international standing.

We must acknowledge the fact that one in five children are hungry, and nearly 50 million Americans live in households suffering from food insecurity.

We must face the reality of a crumbling transportation infrastructure and the fact that improvement costs rise every year we delay investments.

Congress can spend the next month-and-a-half hiding from these truths and hoping for an improved economy that will magically fix these problems, or we can directly address our issues through bipartisan cooperation and with a common goal to make our country better.

Congress can place a renewed focus on investing in the American people through quality programs that promote access, equality, and accountability. All this can be done while we cut wasteful spending, preserve the Affordable Care Act, and set the stage for meaningful tax reform.

Admittedly, that may seem like a lot of priorities to tackle for one Congress, much less this one, but we can. We can do this if we move past the usual partisan bickering and do what is most important for the Nation.

Of course, as they say, the devil is in the details. A very smart, ambitious, and detailed plan is necessary to make it work. Luckily, the Congressional Black Caucus has just the plan to make this work: the CBC budget.

The CBC budget cuts wasteful spending, invests in education, preserves the ACA, provides the resources to rebuild our transportation infrastructure, addresses crippling poverty, creates jobs now, and ensures America is a leader in the high-growth industries of the future.

I want to thank Congressman Bobby Scott for all of his work on the CBC budget.

By considering ideas and proposals from the CBC budget, Congress can stimulate the economy while expanding the middle class. From the dark days of the government shutdown, this opportunity is now a bright spot for Congress and this country. We can rebuild America using the principles on which our Nation was founded: that everyone, no matter their background, should have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.

To my colleagues in the House and Senate, we have the opportunity and a blueprint. Let's build a better America together.

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