Bill Pascrell: “I oppose the rule on the basis of an exclusion of some very pertinent amendments, but I have to respond to what I just…”

“I oppose the rule on the basis of an exclusion of some very pertinent amendments, but I have to respond to what I just heard. It is not the church that hires the individual, it is the Federal Government's money that is being utilized. You are missing this point. Do not, and I warn everyone about this, do not place one party against the other. We support faith-based, but taxpayers should not have their money taken so that one church can say you are not of this religion so you cannot work for me. That is discrimination and it will never stand up with the Constitution. How dare anyone say on this floor that we are allowed to separate with Federal money, with Federal money, the horror of tens of thousands of desperately poor Americans trapped in an environment of extreme neglect, abandoned by its government, left behind to fend for themselves without the most basic resources to survive? We witnessed that in the last 3 weeks. We witnessed the aftermath and we witnessed a wake-up call to America. I am proud that Americans have opened their hearts in the wake of this tragedy to lend a helping hand that the government at first refused. America believes in giving all of its citizens the resources and opportunities to make a decent life for themselves and their families. America believes in bringing the buses in on time so everyone gets out, not just the wealthiest among us. Head Start is that helping hand.…”