Nydia M. Velazquez: “Today we will vote on the Republican spending bill. The Republicans will say that this is a middle-class budget. Do not…”

“Today we will vote on the Republican spending bill. The Republicans will say that this is a middle-class budget. Do not believe it for a minute. In fact, the Republicans are financing tax cuts for the rich by waging war on working families and legal immigrants. And when they talk about a balanced budget, they do not finish the sentence. They should add that they are balancing the budget on the backs of legal immigrants and working families in our country. Not only that, but they are violating the terms of an agreement that they made to the President, the Democrats, and to the American people. The Republican tax plan will give $27,000 in tax breaks to the wealthiest 1 percent. At the same time, they want to eliminate benefits to legal immigrants who become disabled in the future. These are people who have worked hard, raised families, and paid taxes. These are American values and they are values that immigrants to this country hold dear to their hearts. Disability benefits are not handouts. How many times do we have to say this? This is an issue of basic fairness. This budget agreement creates a huge double standard that will permit immigrants to be treated like second-class citizens. Why? To pay for huge tax breaks for the wealthy. Is that what this country is all about? Is that how a just society treats its elderly who become disabled? Is that the message to send to the rest of the world? Mr. Speaker, this budget is really a disaster.”