Tim Ryan

Reclaiming my time, you are lowering the corporate income tax. What sacrifice is being made?

I would just like to ask a question of the chairman. Where in this budget is the sacrifice that is being made by the top 1 percent of the people? On the wealthiest 1 percent.

Because one of the amendments last night in the hearing, in the budget markup, was to implement the framework from the Debt Commission, the Bowles-Simpson Commission, which said two-thirds of the savings should be cuts and one-third should…

Tombstone made up: ``Medicare 1965-2011, created by LBJ, destroyed by the GOP.'' Now is not the time for us to make these cuts and tell our seniors who have paid into this system, who have planned on this system and the people under 55…

I just want to make two points because we hear a lot from the other side about Ronald Reagan, and I know they burn incense and light candles for Ronald Reagan. In the 1980s, it was President Reagan who used cap-and-trade for leaded…

The second area I would like to suggest is transportation and infrastructure. When it comes to creating jobs, there is no more effective way.

First of all, in terms of jobs for Americans, as we consider our budget priorities for full year 2012, we must enact a budget that will actually create jobs and invest in our future prosperity.

Today, I would like to focus my statement on areas of the budget that I think could create jobs, rein in unnecessary spending, and invest in our Nation's infrastructure that will help keep our people working and also safe.

I believe that this is not the time to make cuts in education.

I urge you to consider the critical need for a new WRDA bill and funding for new flood protection projects such as the proposal to protect Cedar Rapids in my District.

It is vitally important for not only my District but districts across the country that FEMA be provided adequate resources to respond to natural disasters and also fulfill their obligation to previous recovery commitments.

That is why I helped create the Volunteer Generation Fund to invest in volunteer recruitment and management and help states, cities, and towns develop the infrastructure to effectively respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.

I have heard time and again from my constituents that, especially in these tough economic times, we cannot divest in the areas that promote economic growth, job creation, and strong communities.

It pains me that during our consideration of the 2011 budget, Congress degenerated into the politics of 'just say no.'

If we don't address the issue of wages, and health care and other things fit into that.

We have a psychological problem in the market because wages have been stagnant for 30 years.

So we are going to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and then we are going to become dependent on China for our batteries, our solar panels, and everything else.

I believe that this needs to happen in the next year because if it doesn't, we are going to get into a political year.

I want to see us start working together across the aisle to make this work for the American people.

We have got to get ourselves in a position where we all agree that the wealthiest... are going to have to pay more.

And the next generation will look at us, and wonder if we made the right decision.

I think it is important that we realize that mature decisions were made in 1990; mature decisions were made in 1993.

I think this is the best budget you could put together given the circumstances.

I am 100 percent behind you on what this budget does to maintain the maximum Pell grant for students.

In order to avoid shocking the fragile economy, the commission recommends waiting until 2012 to begin enacting programmatic spending cuts.