On the recordJanuary 6, 2011
Mr. Speaker, this is a historic time for this Congress, this House and my committee. I can say without a moment's hesitation that this day represents a crucial turning point for our Nation as this new Congress begins a path to fiscal sanity. With this resolution today, Congress will begin immediately to reduce spending, starting here and now with our own office budgets and our committee budgets and the like. To demonstrate my strong commitment to slashing spending, reducing our national deficit and getting our economy back on track, I have directed my own committee budget to be cut not by 5 percent, Mr. Speaker, but by 9 percent, nearly double the amount of reduction proposed for other House offices. What the Appropriations Committee is saying to all other committees is, we see your five; we raise you four. So we are cutting 9 percent. This year, the Appropriations Committee will be ground zero for a wide range of reductions across the Federal Government; and by cutting our own budget first, Mr. Speaker, we are showing we are willing to lead by example. This is a critical time for the Appropriations Committee, as we will carry out the most expansive reduction of discretionary spending in the history of this country. Under my watch, the Appropriations Committee will be an instrument of change, to enforce the will of the American people.
