[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H11338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WE MUST DO MORE

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, back in Indiana, when a tree falls on your 
house, first you tend to the wounded, then you start the clean-up, then 
you sit down and figure out how to pay for it.
  Well, the Congress of the United States in the wake of the worst 
national catastrophe in our Nation's history responded to the need of 
the wounded and the clean-up, appropriating more than $60 billion in 6 
days. But this week, in conjunction with the Senate, this Congress will 
come together to figure out how we are going to pay for it.
  After passing the Deficit Reduction Act, which found more than $50 
billion in savings in entitlement spending over the next 5 years, 
Congress this week will come together on that measure as well as, it is 
our fondest hope, an across-the-board cut in this year's Federal 
budget. It is absolutely imperative that this Congress demonstrate the 
ability to make tough choices even during tough times to put our fiscal 
house in order.
  President John F. Kennedy said it best when he said, To lead is to 
choose. In this week perhaps at some late hour into the weekend or 
early next week, we will see who is willing to come to the floor and 
make the hard choices to put our fiscal house in order. We must do 
more, Mr. Speaker, but we dare not do less.

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