mr. speaker , i want to thank the gentlewoman from new york for yielding me this time . 
mr. speaker , once again , i rise in disbelief about what the house is about to do today . 
it is my belief that we are moving down the wrong road . 
before we left for thanksgiving , the republican leadership twisted arms to pass a bill slashing funding for vital programs that benefit the neediest americans . 
some might say that the bill was callous . 
i say that the bill was immoral . 
today , it is still immoral , uncaring , and without compassion . 
but now , to add insult to injury , we have returned to washington so that the republican majority can line the pockets of those at the very top . 
that is right , they cut vital programs and services that benefit hardworking , low- and middle-income americans , and with the money saved they are giving more tax cuts to the wealthiest of the wealthy . 
and in the process of robbing working families to give to the rich , we are ballooning the debt , saddling our children and grandchildren with the bill . 
everybody loses under this bill . 
everybody . 
that is except the top one-fifth of 1 percent . 
some might call them the super rich ; apparently the majority calls them donors . 
it is unbelievable . 
it is unbelievable that we are doing this during this season . 
the holy season . 
it is unreal . 
this season , of all seasons , you would think they would not have the audacity , the gall to pass such a disgraceful and shameful piece of legislation . 
oh , but they do . 
where is our compassion ? 
all of the great religions of the world speak to the issue of taking care of basic human needs . 
during this season , the question must be asked : what would the great teacher do ? 
what would jesus do ? 
we are saying we are people of faith , and yet during this most holy season we do this ? 
have we lost our way ? 
how long , but oh , how long will we continue to take care of those at the very top and not those in the middle and those at the very bottom ? 
how long , but oh , how long ? 
this bill is not fair . 
it is not right . 
it is not just . 
as a nation and as a people , as a congress , we can do better . 
mr. speaker , i appeal to my colleagues to reject this shameful bill . 
