Statements For the Record

Mr. Chairman, my amendment requires the Department of Defense to limit their spend on motorsports sponsorships for NASCAR, the National Hot Rod Association, the Indy Car Series, or AMA Super Bike Racing to no more than $20 million in Fiscal Year 2012.

With our nation is in a fiscal crisis I can't imagine anyone wanting to spend more than $20 million for taxpayer funded racing teams.

This amendment is simple: it cuts $124.8 million from the overall bill.

For all my colleagues who say they are committed to deficit reduction, this is your chance to prove it.

This amendment reduces government spending while protecting the Pentagon's national security mission by reducing the funding for military bands to the authorized level.

Mr. Chair, Section 9012 of this Defense Appropriations bill contains language authorizing the Pentagon – under the direction and control of the Secretary of Defense – to operate a Task Force for Business and Stability Operations in Afghanistan.

The bill appropriates $150 million to the Secretary of Defense to operate this business task force.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly object to the Republican majority's mean-spirited $650 million cut to vulnerable women, infants and children. The Republican's Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations legislation, H.R. 2112, chooses to make this drastic reduction to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program at a time of economic crisis for millions of American families.

Chairman Bishop, Ranking Member Grijalva, Members of the Subcommittee:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 3 and the on-going Republican war against women's health care in America. H.R. 3 continues the Tea Party Republican's extreme social agenda to pursue unprecedented attacks on women's health and economic security.

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what Republicans have said on the floor, the Republican budget will impose new cuts on today's seniors. The Republican plan repeals the Affordable Care Act, which strengthens Medicare and reduces costs. For seniors on Medicare today, the Republican plan brings back the donut hole - forcing seniors to pay more for your prescription drugs.

Mr. Speaker, despite reservations about certain aspects of this appropriations bill, I will vote in favor of funding the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. The process over the past year, that has led us to this vote, has been filled with missed opportunities, disappointments, and extreme political posturing.