Mr. BLUMENAUER. Thank you, Mr. Spratt, for the courtesy in permitting me to speak on this, and thank you for your leadership, providing to the House of Representatives a budget blueprint that was reflective of the challenge that President Obama laid before us all a scant 3 months ago in his first State of the Union speech.
The budget outline we have before us is an opportunity to do something constructive for those who want to legislate. There are some that say some Members of the House shouldn't be legislators; they should just be communicators, throwing up speed bumps and ignoring the reality of the problem that we face that the President inherited from a former dysfunctional administration that was enabled by my Republican friends when they were in charge: massive budget deficits, serious problems hollowing out the economy, a housing bubble that burst, problems overseas, and ignoring climate change not just in this country but global leadership. What we have seen in 3 short months is an opportunity in this Congress to do something about it.
There is a positive choice that is brought forth in the budget resolution that would be undercut by the motion to instruct to give almost $100 billion over the next 10 years to students instead of bankers, to students instead of bankers. In States like mine with an unemployment rate of over 12 percent, and I know my colleague and friend from South Carolina has a high unemployment rate, we have a chance to help students and their families that are struggling, putting more money in their pockets, not into the pockets of bankers. This budget resolution gives us more leverage to deliver on that promise. It is a blueprint to work with the President and the legislators here who want to legislate, not just talk, to provide alternative choices to American families dealing with health care.
Already in the first 100 days of the President, we have acted to extend health care to 11 million children across the United States. We have dealt in the economic recovery package with bridge financing to help them keep their health insurance if they are laid off. These are things that are part of a constructive program that's available to all who take seriously their responsibilities to roll up their sleeves and legislate.
