I introduced a balanced budget amendment, and I have done it every year.

The 700,000 Texans that I am grateful to represent didn't elect me to posture or message. They elected me to act and to lead on the toughest issues facing our country and impacting our children's future.

We are clearly bankrupting our children.

We can't continue to ignore it.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Dent and the ranking member for their hard work on behalf of the 63,000 veterans in my district, as well as servicemembers and veterans from all across the country. I am also grateful for the support of…

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of division C (before the short title) insert the following: Sec. __. None of the…

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for accepting the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Democratic accountability is supposed to provide an important check and balance, if you will, on overregulation.

But let us make something clear: States do not have rights. States exercise power. People have rights.

Even though State systems and the Federal systems are distinct, I have always maintained that the States are laboratories of democracy.

I would like to thank my colleague and friend from North Carolina, the gentleman, Congressman Walker, for yielding to me and for hosting this Special Order tonight, which is fittingly titled, ``The People's Night.'' After all, there is a…