Marsha Blackburn: “This is an amendment that I propose each and every year because I think this is something that is worthy of discussion.…”

“This is an amendment that I propose each and every year because I think this is something that is worthy of discussion. We are facing $21 trillion in debt in this Nation. We have annual deficits that continue to climb. We have to look at how you are going to grow your way and cut your way out of this Nation's debt. Now, we know that this appropriations bill is something that is at $44.75 billion. A lot of hard work by the members of the Appropriations Committee has gone into this. We appreciate that they have made an effort to keep the spending down, even some years they have been below the level that was actually enacted the previous year. This year that is not the case. They are a little bit above, but they are working diligently, and I am grateful for that. I think we need to work a little bit harder, and that is why I bring this, a penny out of a dollar, one penny, making that type rescission in what we are spending, making certain that we are engaging rank-and- file Federal employees after they receive their appropriated funds, saying: ``Let's go back to the drawing board. Let's take one penny out of every dollar we spend.'' We are doing it for our children and our grandchildren, facing the fact that our Nation has a climbing debt. Now, Admiral Mullen said July 6, 2010: ``The greatest threat to our Nation's security is our Nation's debt.'' This is an issue that deserves a better effort. We have given it good efforts.…”