On the recordJune 8, 2012
Mr. Chairman, I rise today and speak of my simple and straightforward amendment. My amendment would reduce funding at the United States Botanic Garden to the levels appropriated in 2009, which equals just over a $1.2 million cut. That money would then be transferred to the spending reduction account so that we can take one more step towards reining in Federal spending. I will be the first to say I appreciate the Botanic Garden and its beauty. I believe it is a great program, and I am personally interested in botany. But Members of Congress are often faced with difficult choices, especially given our current fiscal crisis. There are programs that are constitutionally mandated and other programs that are nice but are not constitutionally mandated. This is one program that is nice, but it cannot be immune from the fiscal pressures facing our government. While the Botanic Garden is a wonderful attraction, Congress must seek to limit excess spending in the name of getting our fiscal house in order. No line item can be overlooked in making these assessments and decisions, including our own office budget, as we on the House side have demonstrated. Mr. Chairman, so many families are tightening their belts during these trying economic times. Congress must do the same and make cuts where it can. I ask each of the Members to vote in favor of the Gosar amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
