[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONGRESSIONAL PAY ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Edwards of Maryland). The Chair 
recognizes the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona. Madam Speaker, every day this country is 
falling deeper in debt. Today we owe more than $12.4 trillion, and by 
2016 our debt could be as much as $20 trillion. After more than a 
decade of mistakes and neglect by both parties, Washington can no 
longer afford to ignore this issue.
  It is time for Congress to get serious about getting Federal spending 
under control. We should start with our own salaries. Today I am 
introducing the Taking Responsibility for Congressional Pay Act, which 
will cut pay for Members of the House and the Senate by 5 percent. This 
would be the first salary reduction for Members since April 1, 1933, in 
the heart of the Great Depression.
  Restoring fiscal discipline in Washington will require some difficult 
decisions, and every agency has to do their part. Congress needs to 
lead by example to get the job done by taking action, and not just by 
making speeches. With this change we are fighting to change the culture 
in Washington and beginning to make the tough choices it takes to cut 
waste and find savings. It will be an important step toward bringing 
back real fiscal responsibility.
  We are facing historic challenges. It will take historic action to 
address them. I urge my colleagues to join me in acknowledging the 
problem and taking responsibility for fixing it.

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