On the recordSeptember 13, 2012
Mr. Chairman, a continuing resolution is a sign that a budget has failed. And this appropriations process was destined to fail from the start as Republicans unilaterally abandoned the Budget Control Act statutory spending caps in favor of the unworkable caps of the Ryan budget. This 6-month stopgap spending bill proves that the Ryan budget is a lemon. A lemon's a car that won't start, and the Ryan budget is still a nonstarter because it's out of step with the Budget Control Act, with our priorities, and with our values. While the CR avoids the worst of the Ryan budget's cuts to education, infrastructure, and research, this isn't the way Congress should be budgeting. We should be considering final appropriations bills for Homeland Security and other agencies, or an omnibus bill, that would provide certainty about funding levels for fiscal 2013. The whole notion of a 6-month CR begs the question: If we can pass a 6-month bill, why not return to the regular order and pass a 12-month bill? I'm pleased that the CR incorporates a number of ``anomalies'' which accommodate the Department of Homeland Security's need for flexibility in both cybersecurity and Customs and Border Protection personnel. By providing funds for both the EINSTEIN 3 system and for Federal network security, we're ensuring the Federal Government is prepared to tackle the next generation of cyberattacks before they disrupt the Federal network.…





