Chris Van Hollen

So the real question before us is whether we are looking to lift more people out of poverty, or are we more concerned with minimizing the cost of some of these programs in order to protect tax breaks for special interest and the very…

We will not win the War on Poverty by adopting budget proposals that reverse the modest gains we have made.

That budget, the Republican budget, cuts $810 billion from the base funding from Medicaid, $810 billion.

It simply adds insult to injury to pretend that deep cuts to food and nutrition programs... will somehow, quote, 'strengthen,' unquote, that safety net.

It is a budget that showers large new tax breaks on the wealthiest in this country while hurting the middle class.

The proposal that our Republican colleagues in the House have made is that we would, relative to today's sequester, we would increase our spending on defense, and we would make up for that increase by dramatically cutting programs in…

The Republican budget turns it into a block ramp, and cuts it to a level where it is one-third below the Congressional Budget projected levels.

Look, Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman notes, we're in a new Congress right now. In the new Congress, the law requires that we pass a Federal budget by April 15. We are obviously way overdue. It is indisputable that the Senate has passed a…

One of the things we have done in this country as a matter of public policy is to try to encourage the development of fledgling industries.

So that just seems to me counterproductive at a time when our major economic competitors are moving forward in this important space.

And in the Committee that is supposed to make tough choices on behalf of the American public, I would think that we would decide to get rid of those taxpayer subsidies and put them to a higher purpose.

The Republican bill that is coming to the floor of the House this week would essentially open up all of our outer continental shelf to drilling for oil and gas.

I would point out that as of right now, 83 percent of the government lands, federal lands that are being leased, are not being produced.

The Congressional Budget Office predicted that, as a result of the sequester, we will see 750,000 fewer American jobs by the end of this calendar year.

The most immediate measure that this Committee, and that this House, could take right now to eliminate the drag on the economy is to replace the sequester.

I believe, as do hundreds of American businesses who recently signed a statement saying that the United States should rise to the occasion and challenge that dealing with global climate change is, at the same time, a huge economic and jobs…

The most immediate measure that this Committee and this House could take right now to eliminate the drag on the economy is to replace the sequester.

I hope, today, we can assess the budgetary impact of further oil and gas production thoughtfully, honestly, and with a real understanding of the math and facts on the ground.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Maryland will be postponed. Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mr. Walz The Acting CHAIR. It is now…

I find it interesting that the gentlelady would suggest that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey, would ask for an amount of money for our warfighters that is immoral. What is cynical is to use the Afghan and…

I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McKEON. Madam Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn). {time} 1030

Thank you, Madam Chairman. At this time, I yield 1 minute to my friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

I would just urge all Members to read the amendment itself. There is nothing in here that says we will reduce one penny from the National Guard and Reserve. This is an across-the- board provision and it will be disproportionate. At this…

I find it interesting that the gentleman would suggest that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense are not asking for the resources needed to protect our men and women in battle. I now yield 1\1/2\ minutes…

What this shows: the green bars are the growth in non-security discretionary spending since 2001.