Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank my friend from California. I hope you don't go too far for that water, because I want to express my concern about the way the Republican Party, the majority in the House, is providing for running this country. It is a pretty frightening set of circumstances that we have when this country is run on a week-to-week basis; the funding for our troops, the funding for our transportation, the funding for Medicare, for Social Security and for health care of all kinds is on a week-to-week basis. It is very difficult for a family to operate on a week-to-week basis. It is nearly impossible for a business to operate on a week-to-week basis. But apparently for my friends on the Republican side, it is okay for the Nation to run on a week-to-week basis. So today, in what they, I think, believe was a great accomplishment, provide for another week of funding so that the various parts of our government, whether it is education, transportation, homeland security, the military or Veterans Affairs, all those kinds of things are just operating on a one-week basis. That is no way to run a railroad or a country. We have got to do much better than this. And there is no question that we have budgetary issues that this Nation has to confront. My friends on the Republican side of the aisle would like to take it all out, deal with the whole budget, but only in a very slim part, in effect, punish a very tiny part of the budget for the ills that I would say occurred under the Bush administration: big tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, prosecute a couple wars without paying for them, and then allow Wall Street to run amok without any police. That's what caused the debt. Energy efficiency didn't cause the debt in America. Preschool programs didn't cause the debt in America. The National Institutes of Health didn't cause this debt in America that we really do have to deal with today, there is no question about it. But those are the people, those are the things that they would like to blame for the debt. It is across the board. And there has got to be a shared sacrifice. Both millionaires and billionaires have to put up as part of their approach to all this. There has to be a revenue component to this as well as an expense. And so I would say to my friend from California that this 1-week approach to managing something as big as America is crazy, and it has got to stop. We need to have a real budget and real appropriations so that people that do business with the government can have solid expectations for their contracts and people that work in the government know that they are going to get paid, people that receive benefits in one fashion or another know that next week things will keep going. Because this country is great and it is strong and it will be here a long time after any of us. But this month-to-month, day-to-day, week- to-week approach to management is just bad news for America. I hope it changes very soon. I would return the mic to my friend from California.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Thank you, Mr. Garamendi. The way I would wrap it up is that, yes, we are confronted with a budgetary issue that we have got to deal with. We can't run away from it. We can't forget how we got here: tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, prosecute a couple of wars to the tune of a trillion dollars, and then a crash on Wall Street--all under the Bush administration. But we're here. We've got to deal with it. I ask my friends on the Republican side of the aisle that sacrifice has got to be shared, where is that shared sacrifice? It isn't just against early childhood education. It isn't just against medical research. It isn't just against Medicare and Medicaid or education or transportation. You can't just get this budget balanced on a very narrow slice of the budget. Let's share the sacrifice. Let's get this country back on track. Things are recovering. Let's keep it going.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Katherine Moore for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Katherine Moore is a 8th grader at North Arvada Middle School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Katherine Moore is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Katherine Moore for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, as one of the previous Members on the Democratic side talked about, tomorrow is April Fools. April 1, April Fools. The Republicans would like to have everybody believe that a bill that just passed the House but has never passed the Senate, never been signed by the President, is going to become law. I mean, we all know from our civics class that just isn't what the Constitution says, but they'd like us to believe that. Now, that's a bad enough joke on America, but the real bad joke is what's in that bill. We're finally starting to get this country on its feet economically. We're starting to make things in America again. Manufacturing is on the rise. But they'd like to see that cut. They want to cut our research into clean energy, which, in Colorado, for every job that we have in research, there are four private sector jobs. They want to cut that. That's the bad joke that's coming up on April Fools. The cuts that they ask really pull the rug right out from under the feet of America, and we've got to stop it.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jordan Nicks for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Jordan Nicks is an 8th grader at Moore Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Jordan Nicks is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Jordan Nicks for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jossie Ferris for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Jossie Ferris is an 8th grader at Arvada K-8 and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Jossie Ferris is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Jossie Ferris for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Colorado Humanities. The Colorado Humanities and State Humanities councils offer programs in every congressional district in this country. These programs strengthen individuals, families and communities. Councils support K-12 education, family reading programs, local heritage initiatives, veterans programs, public discussion forums, online state encyclopedias, book festivals, documentaries, lectures, library and museum exhibits, professional development and more. Without these programs many schools and small museums would go without essential educational programs. The funding for these programs is possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities. Some have suggested the termination of the National Endowment for the Humanities. All of the participating councils stretch federal dollars by diligent fiscal management, strategic collaborations and leveraging of resources at the local level. Some of the programs including the online state encyclopedias can help generate revenue by providing an important resource for state tourism. Without federal funding councils could potentially lose the matching and in kind donations they use to double the federal funding they receive. The lack of federal support affects the future donation by private companies and donors. In 2010, the state councils used their funding to leverage $5.15 for every federal dollar awarded in grants, worked with 9,600 partner organizations and conducted programs in 5,700 communities nationwide. The Colorado Humanities is an innovative leader, community resource and important partner for humanities programs. The Colorado Humanities is the only statewide organization exclusively dedicated to support humanities education for adults and children. They developed 57 unique programs and awarded 1504 grants in its 36-year history to support humanities education for adults and children. There are three annual community Chautauqua festivals, the Young Chautauqua history curriculum for K-12 students and the distribution of Colorado history documentaries to school and public libraries statewide. The Colorado humanities also provide schools with student writing competitions, the Colorado Book Awards, traveling exhibitions and numerous institutes for teachers. The termination of NEA funding would impact numerous schools and museums in Colorado and the 7th Congressional District would lose multiple educational programs. Our nation's schools and museums already face budgetary cuts on the state level. Colorado Humanities demands little funding, practices diligent fiscal management and is staffed almost entirely by volunteers. The cuts proposed would eliminate an important program for all Colorado residents.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Joslin Hoffschneider for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Joslin Hoffschneider is a 12th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Joslin Hoffschneider is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Joslin Hoffschneider for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Juan Gonzalez for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Juan Gonzalez is a 7th grader at Mandalay Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Juan Gonzalez is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Juan Gonzalez for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Juan DeLaTorre for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Juan DeLaTorre is a 9th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Juan DeLaTorre is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Juan DeLaTorre for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Kathleen Jackson for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Kathleen Jackson is a 7th grader at Wheat Ridge Middle School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Kathleen Jackson is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Kathleen Jackson for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Joey Quintana for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Joey Quintana is a 8th grader at Bell Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Joey Quintana is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Joey Quintana for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Judith Gonzalez for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Judith Gonzalez is a 12th grader at Arvada High School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Judith Gonzalez is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Judith Gonzalez for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Karen Villagrana for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Karen Villagrana is a 11th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Karen Villagrana is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Karen Villagrana for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Kayla Trejo for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Kayla Trejo is a 12th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Kayla Trejo is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Kayla Trejo for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Malorey Bopp for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Malorey Bopp is an 8th grader at Arvada K-8 and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Malorey Bopp is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Malorey Bopp for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lizbeth Blanco-Ramos for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Lizbeth Blanco-Ramos is a 12th grader at Warren Tech North and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Lizbeth Blanco-Ramos is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Lizbeth Blanco-Ramos for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Kayleen Lawton for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Kayleen Lawton is an 8th grader at North Arvada Middle School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Kayleen Lawton is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Kayleen Lawton for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lawrence Salazar for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Lawrence Salazar is a 9th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Lawrence Salazar is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Lawrence Salazar for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Kayla Koval for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Kayla Koval is a 7th grader at Drake Middle School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Kayla Koval is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Kayla Koval for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lydia Agede for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Lydia Agede is a 12th grader at Standley Lake High School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Lydia Agede is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Lydia Agede for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Kathrynn Merrills for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Kathrynn Merrills is a 7th grader at Oberon Middle School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Kathrynn Merrills is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Kathrynn Merrills for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lance Ortiz for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Lance Ortiz is a 12th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Lance Ortiz is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Lance Ortiz for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lorenzo Tolentino for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Lorenzo Tolentino is an 8th grader at Creighton Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Lorenzo Tolentino is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Lorenzo Tolentino for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank my friend from Colorado. I would invite my friend from Texas to come to Aurora, Colorado, where we've actually, with the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, had tremendous successes. This country was on its back financially 2 years ago, 2\1/2\ years ago. We're just now getting back on our feet, and my friends from the Republican side of the aisle want to just pull the rug right back out. You've got to get strong before you can do away with some of these programs. So let's talk about Aurora, Colorado. They got $4.7 million to go and buy homes that were vacant because there had been foreclosures which were causing blight and lots of property devaluation. They went in, fixed the homes, and sold them to good families. The neighborhood starts growing again. Aurora has taken that $4.7 million and turned it into $7.8 million by the sales of these properties, so that the neighborhoods get strengthened, families are helped, and we stop this cycle of foreclosure in tough neighborhoods. My friends on the Republican side of the aisle are blaming all sorts of things for the debt that have nothing to do with it and are taking away things that are really helping middle America. I'd urge them to rethink this whole bill, and I know my friend from Colorado has seen these same things, the benefits of these programs.