“I oppose this budget resolution. It does nothing to lower the cost of living for Americans, and it adds almost 100 billion dollars to the national debt to pay for the war in Iran.”

“Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, as you may recall, 2 years ago, in the election that my good friend the chair referenced, Donald Trump won a whopping landslide of 1\1/2\ points, one of the closest national popular votes in American history, for those keeping score. During that election, he campaigned in my State, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, more than any other in the country. The promise he most often recited at every rally was, and these were his exact words: I will lower your costs on day one. Mr. Chair, what an abject failure. This Presidency, and the rubberstamp Republicans who enable him, have pushed through an agenda that hasn’t lowered costs for the American people. It has only made things far more expensive. He started over a year ago with the Trump tariff taxes, a tax on most imported goods. On average, this has raised costs by about $1,800 a year for the American family. He then doubled down on that last summer, in July of last year, when the rubberstamp Republicans passed, and the President signed what he used to call the big, beautiful bill, which has become the big, ugly law for the American people. That bill makes healthcare more expensive for the American people while cutting off their food assistance at a time that food prices are through the roof. Now, here we are, after all of that. We have the Republican reconciliation 3.0. I think that both parties would agree--in fact, the two Presidential nominees 2 years ago happened to, in a rare point of agreement, but they happened to agree that the number one issue on people’s minds by far was the affordability crisis, that America had become too expensive. Isn’t it interesting that despite the fact that polls continue to show by an overwhelming majority that is the biggest issue that voters care about, we have in front of us the Republican reconciliation 3.0, 47 pages, 6,560 words, not one word about affordability, not one word about how to bring down costs for the American people. They are not even trying. We have a President who just doesn’t care about the average American family and the affordability crisis. Don’t take my word for it. Take the President’s own words. ``I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.’’ This bill reflects that fact. We have in this bill almost $100 billion in new deficit spending. Yes, that is right. The same crowd that loves to cry crocodile tears about deficit and debt whenever there is a President in the White House who is a Democrat, cumulatively now they have added $5 trillion to our national debt, more than any other 18-month period in the history of Congress. They are about to add $100 billion more. Most of that spending is for President Trump’s Iran war, a reckless decision with absolutely no plan on how to achieve victory and how it would end. The American people paid the price for President Trump’s war in terms of dollars and cents. Just look at gas prices. The day before the war was launched, the national average for a gallon of gas was $2.98. Today, it is over $4 a gallon and climbing. Here, we have another reconciliation bill in front of us--nothing in there whatsoever to bring down costs, nothing to lower gas prices, nothing to lower food prices, nothing to lower the cost of consumer goods, just more spending on the most unpopular war in American history. That might sound like an exaggeration, a Trumpian exaggeration. No, it is a fact. Going back to the beginning of polling almost a century ago, there is no other war in American history in which the American people, by a more than 2-to-1 margin, disapprove over approve. Only 30 percent of the American people approve of what the President is doing in Iran. It is no wonder. They are paying the cost. Of course, as expensive as it is for the American family, that doesn’t measure up to the ultimate cost: those lives that we have lost already in this war. Mr. Chair, it is quite clear from the President’s own words and the written text of this bill that this President and the Republican majority have no plan whatsoever on how to bring costs down for the American people. What is worse, they are not even trying. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”

“I oppose this budget resolution. It gives more money to an endless war and does nothing to lower high prices. It also makes it harder for people to vote.”

“Mr. Chair, this bill should really be known as the desperation act because Republicans are so desperate to fund an endless war, so desperate to avoid angering their master at the White House, so desperate to find a way to exclude from the upcoming election many of the very voters that are about to vote them out of office. Obedient Republicans here today are doing nothing to address sky-high prices that are caused by erratic Trump tariff taxes and unnecessary conflicts. American families are paying about $1,100 each in increased costs as a result of Trump’s operation epic folly, and servicemembers are continuing to pay with their lives. Now, Trump demands that we pay again for his billions of dollars wasted in a quagmire he hasn’t the slightest idea how to get out of. Watching Trump blunder along in such a chaotic, irrational manner has caused many Americans to ask: Is he past his prime, or is he really sick? Yet, instead of providing an inquiry or a check on his condition, Republicans hand him another huge check today to do whatever he pleases. To shield themselves from accountability, they also add in this bill not really voter identification, but voter exclusion. They have it all backward. We should restrain the would-be tyrant, not restrain the voters. This misnamed bill is not about saving America. It represents Republicans’ last-ditch effort, grasping for a life preserver before they sink. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Evans of Colorado). Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.”

“I oppose this Republican budget. It spends billions of dollars on a war in Iran that raises gas prices and puts our troops in danger. It also cuts healthcare and food aid for millions of Americans instead of making life more affordable.”

“Mr. Chairman, I also thank the distinguished top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, Representative Brendan Boyle, for yielding and for his incredible leadership. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to this America-last Republican budget that will provide billions of additional dollars to Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East, which has been a complete and total disaster for the American people. Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran has skyrocketed gas prices on everyday Americans who are already suffering from the failed Republican economy and drowning in its poor management. Now, Donald Trump has made several promises to the American people upon his return to the White House, all of which it appears to me he has failed to keep. Donald Trump promised to lower the high cost of living on day one, but costs in America haven’t gone down. Costs have gone up, in part as a result of the reckless Trump tariffs that have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. Donald Trump promised to love and cherish Medicaid, but instead turned around and, as a result of the Republicans’ one big, ugly bill, cut Medicaid by $1 trillion, costing more than 14 million Americans’ access to health insurance and causing hospitals, nursing homes, and community-based health centers, particularly in rural America, to close. Donald Trump promised the American people that ICE enforcement would be focused on the worst of the worst and would only target violent felons. That is not what has happened. Donald Trump and his violent masked deportation machine are spending billions of dollars for ICE to brutalize and kill American citizens or to violently target law-abiding immigrants, as we just saw in Maine and in Houston. Donald Trump, of course, promised that he was elected not to start endless wars in the Middle East but to stop them, and then turned around and has gotten us involved in a potentially endless war in Iran, a reckless war of choice that has made life more expensive for the American people while making us less safe, with Iran being stronger now, having a stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz, a stronger Iran now than they were before Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice. I stand in strong opposition to this America-last, reckless Republican budget, this effort to waste tens of billions of dollars more on operation epic failure in the Middle East. Mr. Chairman, we express our heartfelt condolences to the additional family members of those soldiers and members of the Armed Forces who have lost their lives needlessly in the Middle East, and we all have a responsibility to continue to stand with them in their time of mourning and their time of great need but simultaneously make sure that no additional heroic, patriotic, brave American servicemen or -women need to die overseas in Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice. We stand in strong opposition to this America-last budget. One of the most important things Members of Congress are solemnly given by the Framers of the Constitution is the responsibility to determine issues of war and peace. One of the most important things that we can do is stand against this reckless war of choice in the Middle East so no more servicemembers have to be sent home dead to their families who have been left behind. What we should be doing in this Congress is actually using our taxpayer dollars to make life more affordable for the American people, and that is our commitment as House Democrats. Unfortunately, Donald Trump and our Republican colleagues don’t share that commitment. That is not a hypothetical. It is not hype. It is not hyperbole. Look at their own words. Donald Trump, of course, has said: Because we are fighting wars, we can’t prioritize things like daycare, Medicaid, or Medicare. That is exactly what is happening right now. Republicans, in their one big, ugly bill, enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, ripping healthcare away from more than 14 million Americans all across the country, in rural America, urban America, small-town America, the heartland of America, and Black and Brown America. No one has been untouched by the Republican assault on healthcare. Why is this happening? It is so that Donald Trump can fund this reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East. The reality is, in his own words, he doesn’t give a damn about the economic well-being of the American people. How do we know that? Donald Trump, in his own words, said that the affordability crisis is a hoax. Donald Trump, in his own words, said: I don’t think about the personal financial situation of the American people. Donald Trump, in his own words, said: ``I love the inflation.’’ Mr. Chair, we don’t have to wonder why things aren’t going well for everyday Americans in the United States right now. It is because, in my humble opinion, President Trump and Republicans in this House continue to act indifferent to the economic well-being of the American people and to actively do things that are hurting everyday Americans financially like this reckless and costly war of choice, which is why we stand aggressively against it. On issue after issue throughout this Congress, Republicans have adopted extreme policies to make life worse for everyday Americans and to actively hurt the American people. The Trump tariffs are actively hurting the American people, raising costs, including on farm country, by thousands of dollars per year. The refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits raised health insurance premiums on everyday Americans, more than 20 million people across this country, some by as much as $1,000 in additional expense per month. People are suffocating and drowning in this Trump economy. Donald Trump and Republicans in the one big, ugly bill enacted the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history, a $186 billion cut at the same time that they are funding this reckless and costly war of choice. Republicans have literally ripped food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors, and veterans to sustain the Trump war machine. Republican extremists apparently have money for wars but can’t feed the poor. Our message to the American people is: Don’t lose faith. Help is on the way. Regime change is coming to the House of Representatives in November, so keep your head up.”

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“I give my time to Representative Scott of Virginia to speak.”

“Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), who is the distinguished ranking member of the Education and Workforce Committee. He is also a member of the Budget Committee.”

“I oppose this budget resolution. Everyday costs are already too high. This plan cuts food, healthcare, and education to spend more money on debt and war instead of helping working families.”

“Mr. Chairman, prices are already too high for groceries, housing, healthcare, childcare, and other everyday expenses. However, instead of focusing on lowering costs for working families, the Trump administration and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are presenting this resolution which will continue policies which have actually made things worse. With the passage of their big, ugly bill, they cut healthcare, food assistance, and education funding all while adding $4.7 trillion to the national debt, and now they want to add another $95 billion to the debt to continue waging an endless war. We have a choice. We can invest in working families and ensure that people have access to food, Medicare, Medicaid, daycare, and education, but my colleagues instead are choosing an endless war. That is the wrong choice. Mr. Chair, we should, therefore, oppose this resolution.”

“I oppose the Republicans' budget plan. It does not have any ideas to lower everyday costs for the American people.”

“Mr. Chair, it is interesting. We have been having this debate for a little while now. I haven’t heard one word from the other side about how their resolution is going to lower costs for the American people. They haven’t said one word, which is very consistent with the resolution that they are pushing. Because their resolution also doesn’t say one word or have one idea or one plan on how we can bring down costs for the American people. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.”

“I oppose this budget plan. It spends too much, adds to our debt, and funds a war in Iran instead of lowering costs for Americans.”

“Mr. Chair, the President made some simple promises to get elected: release the Epstein files, end forever wars, and reduce costs. Instead, as we have seen, the administration has done the exact opposite, which has led to corruption, incompetence, and to increase costs, all demonstrating that this President does not care. Yet, rather than pushback and prioritize the American people, it appears the majority does not care, as it has put forward a budget resolution that spends more and borrows more just to please the President and promote his pet projects. This third budget resolution allows for another $95 billion to support the President’s war in Iran, paper over damaging trade policies, and pass legislation that will deter legally eligible voters. I remind my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that the purpose of the budget reconciliation process is supposed to be deficit reduction. Instead, this legislation expands long-term deficits and even violates legal requirements. I get that for over the past decade Congress has abandoned any sense of normal budgeting process and rejected any talk of serious deficit reduction, but this budget could have been an opportunity for this Congress to advance policies that reduce our debt and actually make life more affordable. Instead, the President, once again, pushed the Republican majority to put forward a purely partisan resolution that does nothing to lower costs, nothing to strengthen our economy, and in no way exercises fiscal responsibility. Mr. Chair, that is why I am against this reconciliation legislation. It not only shows that the President doesn’t care about Americans, but it also shows that the majority doesn’t care about our growing debt and deficit and that Congress’ responsibility is to the future of this country.”

“I oppose this budget resolution. It does not help Americans dealing with high prices. Instead, it spends nearly $100 billion on an illegal war started by Donald Trump instead of spending it on schools, veterans, and children. Vote no.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution. Every day Americans are being confronted with skyrocketing prices at the gas pump and grocery store, and this resolution does absolutely nothing to address the economic crisis created by Donald Trump’s economic policies, including his tariffs and an illegal war. Instead, Republicans in Congress are dumping nearly $100 billion into the budget to fund this illegal war--$100 billion. That could pay the salaries of 1 million elementary school teachers, medical care for 7 million veterans, enough to fund nearly 10 years of school lunches for every child, and so much more. Budgets are representative of our values and our priorities. It is absolutely clear that neither the President nor congressional Republicans value or prioritize the needs of the American public. Americans want a Congress that is willing to fix the economy that Donald Trump broke. We are willing every day of the week to do that hard work, to come together to address these pressing issues. $100 billion for something Americans don’t want? We have to reject it. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no’’ on this resolution.”

“Republicans are avoiding the real issue, which is high costs for everyday people. Russia started the war in Ukraine, and we support Ukraine to protect peace in Europe. Republicans also claim they cut the debt, but their earlier plan actually added 4.7 trillion dollars to it. Congress should focus on bringing down high prices.”

“Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This has been a remarkable debate. It seems the other side wants to talk about pretty much any other issue than affordability. They want to talk about Ukraine, which I heard cited. Let me just correct what the chair said a few minutes ago. This is not the Democrats’ war in Ukraine. It is Mr. Putin’s war in Ukraine because he launched a brutal, unprovoked invasion on the people of Ukraine. The reason why the United States and our NATO allies have stood together in financially supporting freedom in Ukraine is because it is not just about Ukraine. It is about whether we will have peace in Europe or whether we will repeat the mistakes that got us into World War II. That used to be a bipartisan consensus, by the way, in this country for the last 80 years until this recent President. We also then heard an absurd charge that somehow the folks on the other side have brought down the deficit and debt. They even cited the CBO. That is funny because they have tended to ignore the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office when the CBO pointed out their bill last year, their big reconciliation 1.0, according to the CBO, added $4.7 trillion to our national debt, the biggest debt buster bill in American history. We can talk about all of these ancillary issues, or we can talk about what is the number one issue on people’s minds, which is that things are too damn expensive. They want costs to come down. Instead, under this Republican Congress, costs are only going through the roof. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar), a very distinguished member of the Budget Committee.”

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“I want members to vote against this budget plan. It spends billions of dollars on war, intelligence agencies, and laws that make it harder to vote. It does nothing to help working families afford food, rent, and healthcare.”

“Mr. Chair, Mr. Arrington recently said that Democrats are counting pennies. That feels like an insult because $95 billion is what Chairman Arrington and the Republicans are asking Congress to approve. Here is where the money goes: tens of billions of dollars for the Pentagon, billions more for the CIA to continue funding this illegal war with Trump, and billions to help States implement the SAVE Act, legislation that could make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to vote. Meanwhile, working families are struggling to put food on the table and gas in their tanks, pay their rent, and afford healthcare. Instead of investing in the actual needs of the American people, this resolution pours more money into war and Trump’s voter suppression agenda. This is not counting pennies. This is our tax dollars that you are wasting on death and destruction. This resolution does nothing to help lower costs or help struggling Americans. This resolution does not speak to the values that we should carry or the priorities that we should have when we put forth a budget. This resolution gets our priorities wrong. Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to vote against it.”

“I want the House to vote against this budget. It funds a war with Iran and makes voting harder. It does nothing to lower the costs of healthcare, food, or energy.”

“Mr. Chair, Republican leadership has claimed that this proposal will address our Nation’s most immediate priorities. That could not be further from the truth. This budget gives this administration a blank check to continue their war of choice with Iran. It makes it harder for Americans to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Most importantly, it fails to meaningfully improve the lives of everyday Americans. Those are certainly not the priorities my constituents have asked me to fight for. My constituents worry about their ability to go to their doctor, yet this budget doesn’t have a dime for healthcare. They worry about their ability to put food on the table, yet this budget will do nothing to lower the cost of groceries. They worry about their utility costs and how much it might cost to fill up their car with gas, yet this budget makes no effort to lower energy costs and will keep gas costs high by continuing President Trump’s senseless war with Iran. They worry about Presidential overreach, yet there is nothing to rein in this lawless administration. This budget does not have anything for the people of New York’s 20th Congressional District, so I urge my colleagues to vote ``no’’ on this farce of a budget. Let’s stop the pain. Let’s stop the consequence. Let’s go forward with progress. Defeat this resolution.”

“Republicans have no plan to lower costs for the American people. They are talking about other things to distract us. Donald Trump's policies, tariffs, and war have caused high inflation that costs the average family $3,100 more.”

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, our majority leader actually just referenced something in which I can report to the House I have personal experience. Having ordered the bottomless pit of pasta at Olive Garden, I can confirm, no, you do not need an ID. What an absurd claim. This is what we have heard throughout this entire debate. Republicans talk about Olive Garden. They talk about IDs. They talk about Biden. They talk about Ukraine. They talk about anything and everything to distract from this core fact: They have absolutely no plan or agenda whatsoever to bring down costs for the American people. According to the Joint Economic Committee, Trump’s inflation all told--the combination of his tariff taxes, the combination of all of the laws that they passed for the last 1\1/2\ years, the combination of increased gas prices because of this reckless war in Iran--all told, the average American family has paid out of pocket $3,100 more for goods and services as a result of the Trump Republican inflation. So I can understand why, with that abysmal record, Republicans wish to talk about anything except for the number one issue on the minds of the American people. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey), a distinguished member of the Committee on the Budget.”

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“I oppose this budget plan. Republicans are simply giving President Trump everything he asks for, including huge tax breaks for the rich, billions more for immigration enforcement, and billions more for war. At the same time, they cut healthcare and food help for regular people, and they rejected our amendments to lower costs.”

“Mr. Chairman, there is a great scene in the movie ``Jurassic Park’’ where the scientist says: You guys are so preoccupied with whether you could, you forgot to ask whether you should. I think the Republicans have been so preoccupied with counting votes to see if they can do the President’s bidding that they have forgotten to ask whether they should. First, they brought a budget bill to the floor of this House that took away people’s healthcare and food so they could give billionaires and corporations the largest permanent tax break in American history. Next, President Trump said: I need $70 billion more for the ICE agents acting as my personal police force. They are going around and using kids as bait, ripping apart families, murdering American citizens on the streets of our country. Republicans said: Fine, we will do that. Now, Trump wants another $95 billion for his forever war in the Middle East. Mr. Chairman, 18 Americans are dead. There is a 19-year- old coming home in a coffin this week, never to spend another holiday or birthday with her family. Everything from gas to groceries has gone up, and America is less safe because of it. But Republicans say: Absolutely, no problem. We will do it. Is there anything Trump wants that Republicans will say no to? I think the answer is no. Democrats offered commonsense amendments that said let’s lower the cost of healthcare, let’s lower the cost of goods, and let’s end corruption. Republican Members said no to all of them. I even offered an amendment that said you can’t use $400 million of taxpayer money to build your ballroom vanity project. What did Republicans say? Fine with us. We will do it because we can. But should you? No.”

“I want members to vote against this budget resolution. It adds to the deficit, cuts healthcare, and does nothing to lower costs for Americans. It also spends billions of dollars to pay for an illegal war in Iran that hurt farmers.”

“Mr. Chairman, is this Groundhog Day? We must be stuck in some kind of infinite time loop because Republicans are trying to ram through a third unpopular, deficit-busting resolution that does nothing to lower costs for Americans. This is on top of cuts to healthcare and their continued investments in cruelty. Unfortunately, this is actually happening. Republicans are trying to pass another bad budget, and all this for the farm aid that Republicans are touting as necessary because Trump’s illegal war in Iran and chaotic tariffs jacked up costs for farmers. The billions in defense funding that Republicans claim is necessary for Trump’s choice to wage the illegal Iran war depleted our stockpiles, and the only necessary action that my constituents are imploring Republicans to take, lowering costs for the American people, is completely missing from this failing effort. Republicans are running up billions of dollars on America’s credit card so that they can send our servicemembers to fight another forever war in the Middle East. They are working to pass a voter suppression bill that won’t secure our elections but will make it harder for Americans to vote. My Republican colleagues tell Americans that they are working for them. The American people are smarter than that. They know what Republicans are doing, and they will not forgive them for what they have done. I urge every Member to vote ``no’’ on this latest bad budget.”

“I want the House to vote against this budget bill. It does nothing to lower the cost of food, housing, or healthcare for working families. Instead, it adds nearly $100 billion to the debt, restricts voting, and gives President Trump money to keep fighting an unnecessary war that is raising prices and getting American troops killed.”

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I will correct the Record. Moments ago, the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee referenced a letter from CBO on June 24, which he alleges, according to him, cited that the only people who lost their Medicaid coverage because of the bill they passed last summer were illegals. That is not at all what the letter says. I have it here in front of me, and I will be happy to submit it to the Record at the end of this debate. Mr. Chairman, it is quite clear, however, that what CBO has found is that the bill they passed last summer, reconciliation 1.0, will kick more than 15 million Americans off of their healthcare coverage. Already, 8 million have lost their healthcare coverage with at least another 7 million to go. This is a healthcare crisis in this country. It was entirely created by the other side. Mr. Chairman, I thank all of the speakers who we have heard from in this debate for their comments. Mr. Chair, the choice could not be more clear. The American people asked us to lower their costs. Instead, this Republican majority has delivered higher prices, less healthcare, more debt, and now tens of billions of dollars for a reckless and unnecessary war. This reconciliation effort does nothing to lower the cost of groceries or the cost of housing, healthcare, energy, or gas. Not one provision provides meaningful relief to working families. They don’t even attempt to do so. There is not one word on any of the things I just cited. What it does do, however, is add nearly $100 billion to the deficit, make new voting restrictions, and hand President Trump another massive check to continue a war that is driving up prices here at home and exacting a devastating human toll. Sadly, three American servicemembers lost their lives this past weekend, bringing the total number killed in this conflict to 18. We mourn them. I think I can speak for the entire House when I say this. We mourn them. We honor their service and sacrifice, and we keep their families and loved ones in our thoughts. Yet, the best way to honor their memory and to protect the brave men and women who are still serving our country is not to continue sending them into harm’s way without a coherent strategy, a clear objective, and an achievable endgame. It is to end this war that President Trump has so badly botched. Democrats stand ready to work with anyone serious about lowering costs and improving the lives of the American people. This resolution does neither. We have a gentleman in the White House who campaigned on the slogan: America First. Does the Chair remember that? Their bill in front of us is America last. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,’’ and I yield back the balance of my time.”