[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2025

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the Republican's Reckless Budget Scheme is 
back on the House floor today, proposing the same devastating cuts to 
our families and communities in exchange for massive tax breaks for 
Elon Musk, President Trump, and their billionaire buddies.
  I am joining every Democrat in the House and Senate in opposing this 
resolution.
  Apparently, Republicans weren't paying attention when Americans 
across the country took to the streets last weekend to tell them to 
keep their hands off our healthcare, our education, and food assistance 
for our children, our elders, and our neighbors in need. I was there 
speaking to my constituents, and I heard them loud and clear.
  This is not the direction the American people want our country to go.
  But despite that, House Republicans are using their majority to 
advance an agenda that serves the wealthiest Americans at the expense 
of our Nation's working families. The Republican budget is a framework 
that instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion. 
That level of cut is impossible without decimating Medicaid. The 
Agriculture Committee will have to find at least $230 billion in cuts, 
which threatens food assistance like SNAP even as food prices are 
rising.
  Let's be clear: Republicans are using these cuts to our neighbors to 
offset their tax breaks for giant corporations and billionaires like 
Elon Musk. And even after all these cruel cuts, their budget will still 
burden Americans with trillions of dollars in new debt.
  President Trump's `Big Beautiful Bill' doesn't do anything to address 
the high cost of living or fix the economic mess created by the 
President's trade war. In fact, it adds more burden for Minnesota 
families who are looking for help with the rising cost of living.
  Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans--about one quarter of our state--are 
covered by Medicaid. A cut of this magnitude would have severe 
consequences for health care access for the families, seniors, people 
with disabilities, and especially children who rely on this coverage. 
That includes 172,000 of my constituents here in the Fourth District, 
90,000 of whom are children on CHIP. In our district, 54,000 
Minnesotans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. SNAP assistance is 
particularly important to children as well as many seniors on a fixed 
income. The health and well-being of our communities are under attack 
by this Republican majority.
  Mr. Speaker, I am voting no on this betrayal of our values and our 
constituents, and I will continue to oppose all Republican efforts to 
take away food, healthcare, and basic government services that 
Minnesotans rely on.

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