Michelle Fischbach: “I thank the Representative from Texas for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, this bill has gone through several versions…”

“I thank the Representative from Texas for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, this bill has gone through several versions just this week--possibly just today--too many for even the bill's sponsors to keep up with. During one of the several Rules Committee hearings, committee chairs could not even explain specific provisions of the bill. How does the majority think the American public can really know what is in this bill? The majority will stick very closely to the talking points, using words like ``transformational,'' ``bold vision,'' and ``values-based leadership,'' and they will say things about affordable housing, universal pre-K, and drug pricing. But do we know where all that money is really going? Our constituents deserve to understand each of these programs but also the ones that they don't include in their talking points. They have eliminated the bipartisan Hyde amendment protections that for 40 years have been preventing tax dollars from being used to pay for abortion. It is being reported that there is approximately $756 billion in a welfare spending increase. How is that money being used? Where is it going? The bill also includes at least a few budget gimmicks. The bill offers partial funding for some programs, creating temporary programs that are clearly meant to be permanent. This means the cost estimates for the bills are not accurate into the future. The committee chairs even have a hard time explaining how those budget gimmicks work.…”