On the recordJuly 10, 2014
I appreciate the comments from my colleagues. I appreciate, particularly, the work Chairman Simpson and his staff have done preparing this bill. I understand the challenges they face, and I appreciate the cuts they have made. But, Mr. Chairman, we are on a path to absolute ruin in this country. If we don't spend one new dollar, we are headed toward a fiscal crisis in a very short time, and we have got to get off that path. One way to do it is to go back to 2008 spending levels, and then let's do the work that the Appropriations Committee has done on this bill. Let's start at 2008 and look at which programs we want to keep, which programs are duplicative, where is the waste. {time} 1945 But we have got to start somewhere. And, frankly, $50 million is a start, but it is not a big enough start. So I would encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.
