On the recordSeptember 27, 2023
In 2020, the DHS bill appropriated $67.8 billion. In 2022, the DHS bill appropriated $75.538 billion. The 2024 DHS appropriation bill includes $91.5 billion. While I certainly respect the work that has been done in that committee, we all are going to have to take a haircut. If not, we are going to add $3 trillion a year to the national debt. Over the next 5 years, that will rise to $50 trillion. Madam Chair, $50 trillion in just 5 years, not 20 years, not 50 years, and it will cost 50 percent of the annual revenue in interest payments alone to service that. If you think that we are making difficult decisions right now, when 50 percent of the revenue that we collect on an annual basis is going to service that loan, we are going to have to make massive changes to the way that we run the Federal Government, and every single person in the country is going to feel it. It is going to be dramatic pain. All I am asking is that we reduce by $8.7 billion. I can't believe that I am saying only $8.7 billion. Again, I respect the work that has been done, but these are some difficult decisions that need to be taken care of, and I am willing to do my part to help us get there. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
