| Addressing Failed Administration Policies |
April 18, 2012 |
|
Jack Kingston, R-GA
|
|
"The United States Senate, under Harry Reid, has not passed a budget in 3 years. That is the constitutional duty of the legislative branch of government. The House has done so. The House passes a budget. We had a great debate 2 weeks ago. We had a budget offered by the Democrats, one offered by the Progressive Caucus, one offered by the Congressional Black Caucus, one offered by the most conservative caucus, one offered by the Ryan Budget Committee. We had a great debate, and we passed a budget."
|
|
| Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Resolution |
April 18, 2012 |
|
David Cicilline, D-RI
|
|
"All of us in Congress need to help reignite the American dream and build ladders of opportunity for anyone willing to work hard, take responsibility, and play by the rules. There were alternative budget proposals presented in the House of Representatives during debate, including options offered by the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Both initiatives were superior to Representative Ryan’s Republican budget document, and included provisions that would preserve the Medicare guarantee, eliminate tax subsidies for big oil companies and loopholes that encourage corporations to ship jobs overseas, and maintain vital investments in education, job creating initiatives, manufacturing, and capital access for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Ultimately, while I support a number of the proposals offered in both the CPC and CBC budget alternatives, I believed the Van Hollen proposal aligned most closely with priorities shared by many Rhode Islanders—including a permanent extension of the 2001 2003 tax cuts for the middle class. In addition, unlike both the CPC and CBC proposal, Representative Van Hollen’s Democratic alternative adhered to the discretionary spending levels set in the Budget Control Act of 2011—an agreement that represented a bipartisan, bicameral compromise. In order to prevent a first ever default on our nation’s obligations, and to avoid the very real potential of an economic catastrophe, I voted in favor of the Budget Control Act on August 8, 2011. To be clear, there was a lot about this compromise legislation that I did not like, but my prerequisite for voting in favor of the bill was that we avoid a default and we protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid beneficiaries, which this bill did. Just as I could not support Representative Ryan’s proposal to walk away from this compromise legislation and make further, dramatic reductions to discretionary spending below the caps set by the Budget Control Act, I also could not support alternatives that did not adhere to the bipartisan, bicameral compromise we agreed to less than one year ago."
|
|
| In Recognition Of The Late Honorable Donald M. Payne |
April 17, 2012 |
|
Dennis Kucinich, D-OH
|
|
"Representative Payne entered public life in 1972 when he was elected to the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Ten years later he was elected to the Newark Municipal Council where he served three terms. In 1988, Donald became the Representative of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, and the first African-American to represent New Jersey in Congress. As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, he was a relentless defender and supporter of education related issues. He was an inspiration and a friend."
|
|
| Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act |
April 16, 2012 |
|
John Larson, D-CT
|
|
"Just this last year, the house adjoining the Twain house in Hartford is the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and we had the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who came to Hartford to participate in a discussion about race. Of course, even today, as both Mark Twain and the whole issue of “Huckleberry Finn” and “Tom Sawyer” continue to come under literary discussion and debate, it also focuses on an important issue that the Nation needs to continue to face, and that’s the whole issue of humanity as it relates to how man deals with man and the whole issue of racism. There was no stronger proponent in this Nation than Samuel Clemens. Mark Twain was just incredible in terms of his gift, his literary genius, a great ambassador abroad for this country, and heralded on this shore and all across the globe as a humanitarian, and we are so proud."
|
|
| Concurrent Resolution On The Budget For Fiscal Year 2013 |
March 29, 2012 |
|
Laura Richardson, D-CA
|
|
"Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the Congressional Black Caucus Alternative Budget for Fiscal Year 2013. The budget plan outlined by the CBC takes a direct and balanced approach to restoring America’s promise, achieves fiscal responsibility and sets a priority to invest in our future."
|
|