Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 48, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $30,000,000)(increased by $30,000,000)''. Page…

Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to ask for my colleagues' support for an amendment to protect our most vulnerable constituents--our children. This bipartisan amendment is a simple one. It says that child victims of sexual predators should…

It makes sure that the social safety net is shredded. It makes sure that we end the Medicare guarantee.

We understand that compromise and working together is important.

The Republican plan... eliminates the social services block grant.

The bottom line here is we are careening down an unsustainable path. The solution is to work together and take a balanced approach, not take a meat axe to important programs that are going to hurt people unless we work together.

Democrats believe that the Republicans through the Romney Ryan budget, their cuts-only approach to deficit reduction is irresponsible.

Sequestration would effect 1.5 million low-income kindergarten through 12th grade students who would be affected by harmful program cuts in Title 1.

It is critical that local leaders be given the necessary tools to start planning now, so that our communities will have enough time to prepare for these life-altering effects.

The fact that TANF is a block grant actually, in my view, makes it all the more important that food stamps retain its entitlement structure and be that floor under the poorest families.

And that is because a block grant, you are giving a finite amount of money. You are saying this is what you have. Do with it what you will.