Marsha Blackburn: “This is an amendment that I bring every year. I told Chairman Simpson that I knew he was delighted to see me back on the…”

“This is an amendment that I bring every year. I told Chairman Simpson that I knew he was delighted to see me back on the floor again this year with the amendment for the 1 percent across-the-board spending cut. I do want to thank the committee for its hard work in cutting, and it is important to note that the proposed funding levels for this appropriations bill this year is $35.4 billion, which is $633 million below the President's budget request. I have got to say, with the situation in our Nation with our debt, I think my 1 percent spending reduction, which will save taxpayers an additional $356 million, is something that is necessary, and it is a step that we need to take. I am really fully aware that some of the appropriators aren't standing in favor of the 1 percent across-the-board cuts. In fact, when I offered this amendment to last year's bill, I was told that cuts of this magnitude, quite honestly, go far too deep. Well, I think that, when you look at the fact that we need to be cutting another penny out of a dollar, that is not too deep because our debt is something that is damaging our Nation's security. Even Admiral Mullen has said that the greatest threat to our Nation's security is our growing national debt. Because of that, we need to do a little bit more every time we come to the floor for appropriations to get this $18.2 trillion debt under control.…”