The American people expect us to stop burying our children and our grandchildren under a mountain of debt, to stop spending money we don't have, particularly when we are spending about 40 cents out of every dollar that is borrowed, much of…

the need has never been greater for us to avoid gimmicks. Gimmickry in this context can have very high stakes and can prove most detrimental to our economy and to the ability of our government to function. We have to look out for those…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), add the following new section: Sec. __. It is the policy of the United…

I join my esteemed colleague Ms. Jan Schakowsky from Illinois in offering an amendment that hits at the heart of the issue of fiscal responsibility. This amendment would freeze Department of Defense programs at fiscal year 2011 levels…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the spending reduction amount), insert the following: Sec. __. (a) Prohibition on Use of…

I am pleased that my colleagues, Representatives Nadler and Woolsey, are joining me in offering an amendment that make it the policy of the United States to withdraw all members of the United States Armed Forces and military contractors…

I stand before you today to discuss a problem that is of concern to 300 million Americans. It relates to our national debt, a debt that will soon cross the $15 trillion threshold. We have been asked to raise the debt limit, extend the…

I want to once again thank Mr. Rogers and Ranking Member Dicks and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for their hard work on this bill. Let me also thank my colleagues who are joining Representative Jones and me on this…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California will be postponed. The Clerk will read. The Clerk read as follows: Afghanistan…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 131, line 25, insert after the dollar amount the following: ``(reduced by $5,000,000,000)''. Page 161, line 12, insert…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California will be postponed. Amendment Offered by Mr. Garamendi

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 125, line 6, insert after the dollar amount the following: ``(reduced by $3,438,789,000)''. Page 125, line 12, insert…

Let me just first thank Chairman Rogers, our ranking member, Mr. Dicks, and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for their hard work in putting together this bill. I rise today to offer the Lee-Jones amendment, joined by…

I thank the Senator from Wisconsin. There is no issue that is more important or more pressing for the American people than this one right now, where we have reached a point where our debt-to-GDP ratio is about 95 percent. Our economy can't…

I thank my distinguished colleague, my senior Senator from Utah, Mr. Hatch, for his leadership on the balanced budget amendment over the years. He has been a consistent and stalwart advocate for the cause of amending the Constitution in…

I stand to talk about a looming crisis in this county, a problem that has the potential to affect every American from every State, from every political party, of every political ideology. That issue relates to our national debt. We have…

I want to thank our ranking member for yielding and for her leadership and for this very important debate this morning. Mr. Speaker, let me just say, this debate, I believe, should have taken place at least 2 weeks prior to the war in…

I thank the gentlewoman. Unfortunately, the Speaker did not grant our request, and we find ourselves here today debating this important constitutional issue well over 60 and even 90 days after hostilities began. So you will have to forgive…

I want to explain these amendments today during general debate, so I appreciate the time because I think this is important for the public to know that there is a $5 billion Pentagon war slush fund just sitting over there. So I want to…

First let me thank our ranking member, Mr. Dicks, for your leadership for this time, but also for your patriotism and for your commitment to our country and to our troops. And it is an exciting committee, and it's a very important…

I was unable to cast my votes earlier today. Had I been present to cast my votes, I would have voted ``yes'' on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions on H.R. 2055, I would have voted ``yes'' on final passage of H.R. 2055, and I would…

I was unable to cast my votes this evening. Had I been present to cast my votes, I would have voted ``yes'' on the amendment offered by Mr. LaTourette and ``yes'' on the amendment offered by Mr. Sherman. I would have voted ``no'' on the…

Let me thank our ranking member for yielding. And let me just say, first of all, I rise in opposition to the Boehner resolution. This debate is long overdue. On March 30, I, along with Representatives Woolsey, Honda, Grijalva and Waters…

As we know, the War Powers Act specifically forbids Armed Forces from engaging in military action in foreign lands for more than 60 days without congressional authorization or the use of military force or a declaration of war. We have been…

By including this language in this bill, we are absolutely being clear that the policy of the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq has never included permanent bases and will never include permanent bases. However, I'm disappointed that…