On the recordMay 20, 2015
The gentlewoman's amendment ignores the law of the land. She and more than 90 other Democrats supported the Budget Control Act, which was signed into law by the President. This amendment ignores those budget caps. I support a responsible and sustainable path forward for U.S. science, research, and development; but it is neither responsible, nor sustainable, to spend more and more taxpayer dollars and increase the debt that future generations will inherit. We must prioritize the areas of basic research to ensure future economic competitiveness and spur private sector innovation. Since the last Congress, we have worked hard to reach an agreement with the minority on numerous policy issues, but we have been clear since the beginning that increases in spending need to have reasonable offsets. This amendment fails to include any offsets and openly ignores the Budget Control Act. I urge my colleagues to support a balanced approach of fiscal responsibility and targeted investments in priority, science, and basic research. Vote ``no'' on the amendment and ``yes'' on the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.
