Nita Lowey: “I rise to oppose this bill, with the greatest respect for the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Porter) and the ranking…”

“I rise to oppose this bill, with the greatest respect for the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Porter) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). They both care deeply about the health, education, and opportunities available to Americans. I especially want to mention my high regard for the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Porter), who has said he will retire at the end of this Congress. The gentleman from Illinois has served his constituents, this committee, and the people of this great country with such honor, commitment, and decency, I am proud to call the gentleman my friend. I have hoped and will continue to hope that we can come together and work on a budget that truly addresses the needs of Americans. Unfortunately, in too many instances, I do not believe this budget does so. We are spending billions in this budget and, unfortunately, in my judgment, many times we are spending it in the wrong places. In some cases, we delay so long it is almost like not spending the money at all. The delayed obligation to the NIH and CDC troubles me, particularly. I have a personal reason for caring about this part of the budget. I lost my mother to breast cancer, and not a day goes by when I do not think about her and of the years we missed together. I often wonder how many women like my mother might still be alive today if our country had invested more in cancer research and treatment a generation ago.”