Jim Banks: “My amendment would apply a 14 percent reduction in the amounts made available for this division. However, it is…”

“My amendment would apply a 14 percent reduction in the amounts made available for this division. However, it is important to note that this amendment would not apply to amounts made available for the Department of Defense and would have no effect on foreign military financing. As my colleague highlights, there are worthy programs in this division to help us build and maintain strong relationships around the world, but we cannot continue to be a dependable friend to those in need if we do not put our own fiscal house in order first. As I mentioned previously, Washington is addicted to spending. Our national debt today stands at over $22 trillion. We are set here to add trillions of dollars more in debt every year for the foreseeable future if we continue down this path of spending without any fiscal discipline. We need to act now to prevent a debt crisis that consumes our children and our grandchildren. Unfortunately, it appears that this is not a priority for my friends across the aisle. America needs leadership to solve this problem. That is why I am here today again proposing that we start by making commonsense reductions to discretionary spending, like the one that I am proposing today to this division of H.R. 2740. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”