On the recordJanuary 24, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I am here today to speak about something that is nearly 3 years in the making. Some 1,000 days ago, in April of 2009, the Senate passed a budget, and that's the last time we've seen any attempt from them to set Washington's agenda and rein in government spending. Without a budget, how can government set its priorities? Without priorities, how can American citizens have any confidence in how their tax dollars are being used? The short answer is they can't. With a $15 trillion debt, the United States faces its greatest fiscal challenge in history. Washington must find a way to get its finances in order while preserving programs for our seniors, protecting our services for future generations, and providing our economy with the certainty to create much needed jobs in America. The House will soon pass a budget that does this, and I urge the President to call for action during tonight's State of the Union address. ____________________
