Nydia M. Velazquez: “I rise today in strong opposition to the balanced budget amendment. Mr. Chairman, I too am concerned about the Federal…”

“I rise today in strong opposition to the balanced budget amendment. Mr. Chairman, I too am concerned about the Federal budget deficit. We must make every effort to realign our national priorities and focus limited Federal dollars on our most pressing national needs. The problem with the balanced budget amendment is that it makes no provision for social programs benefiting our most vulnerable population, as in previous budget reduction measures. Under this proposal it would likely be the sick, the poor, and our children who will sacrifice. If this amendment is adopted, today's health care crisis will become tomorrow's public health disaster. Revenues earmarked for financing health care reform--Medicare and Medicaid cost reductions-- would instead be directed towards deficit reduction. With this constitutional amendment, we will have no dollars for universal health coverage, too few funds for HIV research and treatment, inadequate support for community health centers, and scant attention to breast cancer research and other urgent health needs. This amendment would also force us to turn our backs on our most precious resource--our children. Today, almost 15 million of our kids live in poverty. Many have no chance for a meaningful, quality education. More than 50 percent of eligible children are never reached by Head Start.”