Nydia M. Velazquez: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the era of…”

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the era of debts and deficits must come to an end. However, in addressing this problem, we must look at what got us here. It wasn't overspending on low-income housing, job training or education--which all stand at historically low levels. It was two unfunded wars and the Bush tax cuts which keep on giving to America's wealthiest. Unfortunately, the legislation before us today keeps every tax break for the wealthy and means billions more in resources will be used to fund these two wars. We keep hearing how critical this bill is to getting our economy back on track. It is hard to imagine how this legislation will do so. I cannot support any proposal with such big cuts in education, economic development and job training that will hamper our recovery. In the weeks leading up to today there was a lot of rhetoric for shared sacrifice. Unfortunately, what we are considering today places the burden of the fiscal mess squarely on our Nation's working families, and that is something I cannot support. I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and vote ``no'' on this ill-conceived legislation.”