Thursday, April 6, 2006                                                                                 Printable Version (PDF)

 

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-5), while speaking on the House floor, criticized the fiscal year 2007 Budget resolution as failing to reflect the best interests of Sacramentans, or the needs of America’s families.  

Click here to view Congresswoman Matsui's statement on the budget

 

“Congress cannot continue to run this government in the same selfish, shortsighted manner as we have over the past five years,” Congresswoman Matsui emphatically stated.  “We risk breaking America’s foundation of opportunity and prosperity and imperiling the quality of life for our children and grandchildren.

 

Over five years, the Republican budget plan will not even allow many programs vital to working Americans to provide the same level of services as they currently offer.  This means cuts to education by $45 billion, for health programs by $18 billion, for environmental protection by $25 billion and for veterans’ health care by $6.0 billion.   Meanwhile, the plan will add $1.1 trillion to the deficit over five years while providing for an additional $228 billion in tax cuts over that period. 

 

Congresswoman Matsui discussed how this irresponsible plan would affect future generations. “We need a budget that makes sense for America’s families.  I think about my two and a half year old granddaughter Anna.  It is Congress’s responsibility to invest the resources today so that Anna and her friends have at least the same opportunities that you and I have had. 

 

“To accomplish this goal, we must devote long-term resources to health care, education and scientific discovery.  Yet, with this budget, we are reducing our capability in these areas while continuing to run a massive deficit.  So not only are we not investing in Anna and her friends, but we’re passing our debt on to them.”

 

In her floor statement, Congresswoman Matsui expressed particular concern that the budget provides inadequate resources to pursue breakthroughs in medical research.

 

“Sadly, this budget underfunds critical medical research.  As a result, dynamic institutions like the UC Davis Medical Center will not have access to the same level of federal resources as they did in last year’s budget.   

 

“What do you tell the children or the spouse of a woman who may have benefited from additional cancer research, but will not now because of this budget?  The fact is, this budget chooses tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans instead of investing in medical research.  I refuse to tell the families in my district that Congress is making such a choice.”

 

Republican leaders in Congress have said they expect to vote on the budget before the House recesses at the end of the week.  Unless the legislation is drastically altered, Congresswoman Matsui will join her Democratic colleagues in voting against this misguided budget plan.    

 

###