Statements For the Record

Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks, hundreds of Minnesotans, as well as citizens from across the country, have contacted my office about the military's multi-million dollar taxpayer sponsorship of NASCAR race cars.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1 - legislation introduced by the House Republican majority that would cut over $60 billion in essential funding to America's communities without making a significant impact on this year's federal deficit.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment ends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars from being wasted on the sponsorships of NASCAR race cars by the Department of Defense.

With trillion dollar deficits this amendment is where the rubber meets the road for my Republican-Tea Party colleagues who want to cut wasteful spending.

First of all, to make clear, while the Congressman says his amendment eliminates the U.S. Forest Service's International Programs, it does not.

The amendment only calls for a reduction in the budget for the "Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, State and Private Forestry." Should this short-sighted amendment pass, the Agency would decide what within its budget to cut.

I rise today to let the American people—and all Minnesotans—know that this Continuing Resolution is an unprecedented assault on our public health and the environment.

We know the federal budget is in crisis.

We know we must make tough choices.

But those choices must be prudent, wise, and invest for our future. It should not put the basic health of Americans at risk.

I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 519, a bill that would prevent vital upgrades to security around the United Nations building and break America's promise to pay legally-mandated U.N. dues. This legislation does not - as my Republican colleagues claim - reduce the deficit. In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office determined that "implementing H.R.

I firmly belief that we can fight terrorism and keep our communities safe without sacrificing the rights and liberties that generations of Americans have fought so hard to secure. H.R. 514 fails this critical test, and I will vote to oppose it.

Mr. Speaker, with the passage of H.R. 359, House Republicans voted today to give corporations and other special interests even more power to influence America's elections. I strongly oppose this legislation and will continue working to restore transparency and balance to our country's broken campaign finance system.