Rosa DeLauro

We are eliminating community health centers, which is a major portion of our health care system.

Montanans rely on community health centers, and the centers rely on Congress to provide adequate funding.

Community health centers are the backbone of quality health care in rural States like Montana.

I would also say that the economic recovery program was targeted. It was transparent. It was timely, and it was temporary.

It would seem to me that the banks are doing pretty well. And you know what, we bailed them out to a 'fare thee well'; it is time we bailed out those folks who are trying to get the kids to school.

Yes, I think, of the number of rounds we have had, I think I have asked only a couple of questions, so I am going to take some time.

The President's budget includes an increase for ESEA Title I, but it is not targeted to those students and schools with the greatest need.

I know for a fact that in our districts, I know members of the Congressional Black Caucus' districts, these earmarks leverage private funding and foundation funding.

I was surprised that he would say no more of this.

I think I can quantify, as well as I know members of the Congressional Black Caucus, can quantify how earmarks have benefitted our districts.

This is about the 13 percent cut in the majority's budget in regard to CMS and the Medicare program management.

On behalf of the students in my district and across America, I want to thank you and the President for committing to investments in education.

It does not make sense to roll back our critical investments in education.

I cannot emphasize enough how important Pell Grant support is in helping people of all ages go to work, go to school--now more than ever.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

To cut the deficit, the majority could have ended $40,000,000,000 in subsidies to oil companies, $8,000,000,000 in agricultural subsidies to big businesses, $8,000,000,000 in giveaways to multinational corporations who send their jobs…

Mr. Chairman, if I might just ask for unanimous consent to enter into the record the testimonies of these youngsters who were at this forum on the value of Pell.

Cutting the Pell Grant funding, and I have the citation here, will reduce the number of low-income students receiving bachelors degrees each year by about 61,000.

If Pell Grants are cut, the result is students and families will borrow more.

Every opportunity is being eliminated through H.R. 1, in effect.

This effectively terminates the Federal Government's role in the workforce development, something that did not occur under President Reagan's administration, not even under President Nixon.

It isn't the tax cuts for the richest 2 percent of the people in this Nation that stimulates the economy.

The backlog was something that needed to be addressed.

If the majority is successful in this massive cut to Head Start, what is the effect?

Even though budget balance is important, pay-off to the early childhood programs are especially higher as a result of the beneficial returns to the overall economy.