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The Budget

Date: March 24, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending Environment


THE BUDGET -- (House of Representatives - March 24, 2004)

(Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, history shows in the last 10 years that we are increasingly taking the budget process here less and less seriously. This week's alternative from the Republican Party will be no exception. It is an alternative that will actually increase our deficit more than if we simply did nothing.

But it is not that the budget resolutions should not be taken seriously. The environment is one key area. We Democrats will be providing an alternative that actually lowers the deficit while protecting the environment, funding Superfund cleanup, which creates jobs, funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund without drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

There was a time when fiscal restraint and protecting the environment were bipartisan objectives. I hope I am in this Chamber long enough where that comes back to be the priority again.

END

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