Nancy Pelosi: “the distinguished chairman lodged a point of order on the basis that this is outside the budget allocation. On that…”

“the distinguished chairman lodged a point of order on the basis that this is outside the budget allocation. On that score, he may be correct. But the fact is that despite the expressions of priority for the funding at the National Institutes of Health, which the chairman has very sincerely made and others have made in this Chamber, we had other choices in this bill. In fact, if this is of the highest priority, why was it not given the same status that other Republican priorities are given in this bill? As we know, there is a $500 million budget adjustment to accommodate $500 million of other spending in this bill. That could have been done for this $1.7 billion and we could have ensured, guaranteed, given peace to the American people that their health and that the research to ensure it to be protected. Instead, the only thing protected in this bill is the tax break for the wealthiest people in America. That is the decision that Members have to make. It is not about this being fiscally responsible. We all want to be that. Indeed, our alternative Democratic budget resolution had this $1.7 increase and it was fiscally responsible. Two things, Mr. Chairman. Because the distinguished chairman has said he is calling a point of order because this is beyond the allocation of the budget, it could be protected just the way this other funding had a lifting of the budget, had an adjustment of the budget figure.”