[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1542-H1544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENSIBLE STEPS TOWARD A BALANCED BUDGET ACT
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 4825) to require any amounts remaining in a
Member's Representational Allowance at the end of a fiscal year to be
deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction or to reduce
the Federal debt.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
[[Page H1543]]
H.R. 4825
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REQUIRING AMOUNTS REMAINING IN MEMBERS'
REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES TO BE USED FOR
DEFICIT REDUCTION OR TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL
DEBT.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, any amounts appropriated for Members' Representational
Allowances for the House of Representatives for a fiscal year
which remain after all payments are made under such
Allowances for the year shall be deposited in the Treasury
and used for deficit reduction, except that in the case of a
fiscal year for which there is no Federal budget deficit,
such amounts shall be used to reduce the Federal debt (in
such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury considers
appropriate).
(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect
to fiscal year 2011 and each succeeding fiscal year.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Harper) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I'm delighted now to bring to the floor
this worthy bill offered by my colleague, and yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick).
Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to
discuss the bill I introduced with Mr. Peters, the Sensible Steps
Toward a Balanced Budget Act, legislation that requires that money left
over in a Member's Representational Allowance, or MRA, at the end of
the fiscal year be deposited in the Treasury and used to reduce the
budget deficit or national debt.
As a lifelong resident of greater Arizona, I grew up around
hardworking families who knew that, when times get tough, you tighten
up your belt and make every dollar count. I brought this sort of
thinking with me when I came to Washington last year to represent those
same hardworking families. By emphasizing efficiency in my office and
focusing on the most critical items, I managed to spend over $100,000
less than what was authorized of my MRA. I was proud to save the
taxpayers money and looked forward to seeing that money used to lower
the national debt in this year and for years to come.
Every year, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee
includes language in its appropriations bill to require that unspent
allowances are used toward the national debt. Given these times, it is
important that we make this requirement permanent.
The Sensible Steps Toward a Balanced Budget Act would do three
important things. First, it would make the requirement to use unspent
MRA funds toward the national debt automatic so that congressional
action would no longer be necessary for this important provision to be
put into place. Second, it would make the requirement permanent so that
Congress does not have to pass another provision year after year.
Finally, it would put the power of Federal statute behind this
requirement rather than depending upon appropriations language.
In these tough times, we must get on a path of finding every
opportunity, big and small, to put our fiscal house in order, and I
believe that this bill is a concrete first step the Congress can take
in that direction.
Thank you again, Chairman Brady, for the opportunity to discuss the
Sensible Steps Toward a Balanced Budget, and I urge its passage.
Mr. HARPER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today, I rise in support of this bill, which will require unspent
funds in a Member's Representational Allowance to be used for deficit
reduction, or in the case that no deficit exists, to be used for
reduction of an ever-growing Federal debt.
Just as we expect households to manage their budgets well and reduce
personal debt, the Federal Government must be prudent in the use of
taxpayer dollars and make diligent efforts to reduce the annual deficit
and, ultimately, the Federal debt. This bill is one small step toward
achieving that purpose; however, I hope, Madam Speaker, that this
legislation is only the first step in an effort by this Congress to get
our government's fiscal house back in order.
We all know that it is imperative for us to take a serious look at
entitlement spending. We cannot wait for another generation to take up
this mantle. We were elected to make wise and sometimes difficult
decisions, and I hope that the difficulty of the task will not prevent
wisdom from prevailing in this matter.
I would like to recognize the tireless efforts of my colleague from
Michigan (Mr. Camp), upon whose leadership we have relied for more than
14 years to carry this issue in the House. Last year, it was Mr. Camp's
provision in the Legislative Branch appropriations bill that required
the return of unspent funds to the Treasury for deficit reduction, and
I know that his efforts paved the way for this measure to come before
the House today.
I am pleased to support this bill and encourage the support of my
colleagues.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I'd now like to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters).
Mr. PETERS. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4825, and I am
proud to have worked closely with Representative Kirkpatrick on this
important issue. We share the belief that government needs to do more
with less.
The Sensible Steps Toward a Balanced Budget Act simply requires that
all unused funds from each congressional office account, known as the
Members Representational Allowance, or MRA, be given back to taxpayers
to help reduce the Federal deficit. As our Nation faces a significant
budget deficit and a growing national debt, we must look for
commonsense solutions to cut spending. As Members of Congress, we
must--and can--lead by example.
As a State senator in Michigan, I ran my office so efficiently during
my 8 years that I was able to return the equivalent of a full year's
operating budget back to Michigan taxpayers. When I came to Congress at
the beginning of 2009, I made it a priority to run my office here
efficiently, as well, and came in under budget in order to return the
difference to taxpayers. Last year, my office came in $135,000 under
budget, and I'm continuing my efforts to save taxpayer dollars at every
opportunity.
I was surprised to learn, however, that the money I saved each year
would not necessarily be returned to the Treasury to help offset the
deficit. This legislation would fix that, so that funding from more
frugal Members of Congress can be saved and put back into the Treasury
to reduce the deficit.
I believe that fiscal restraint should not be a partisan issue and
that we must work together to find every opportunity to slash spending
and forge a path toward a balanced budget and a shrinking national
debt. This legislation is an important step towards our goal of a
balanced budget.
I would, again, like to thank my colleague Representative Kirkpatrick
for her hard work and leadership on this issue, and thank you, Chairman
Brady, for the opportunity to speak about the Sensible Steps Toward a
Balanced Budget Act.
I urge its passage.
{time} 1430
Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Representative Flake,
the distinguished gentleman from Arizona.
Mr. FLAKE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to commend my
colleague from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) for introducing this
legislation. This would simply turn over to the Treasury for deficit
reduction anything left over in our account that is used to run our
offices. This is good legislation. It should move forward. I must say,
however, that we should go much further than this.
Part of the reason there is money in a lot of people's accounts to
turn back is that we are given more than we need, typically because
most Members
[[Page H1544]]
choose to send out thinly veiled campaign mail, I would assert, under
the frank, or using taxpayer dollars. If I were to hold up in an
election year--now there are blackout dates, so you can't send too
close to an election. But still, spending goes up considerably in
Member offices during a campaign year or an election year. If I were to
hold up one of my campaign pieces of mail that I pay for with my
campaign and something that's sent out that has the little words on
there, Paid for at taxpayer expense, they're both four color, they're
both colorful, nice pieces, lauding the Member of Congress for what he
or she is doing, I defy anybody to tell the difference between regular
campaign mail paid by campaign funds and somebody's taxpayer mailings.
We shouldn't be doing this. And it seems that we get in our offices
just an increased amount that is used because nearly every office does
it.
We ought to lower that amount that every office receives or in some
way ban the use of these colorful four-color mailings that go out. I am
certainly not asserting that Members of Congress shouldn't be able to
use the frank, and a lot of the mass mailings that go out are simply to
inform constituents of town hall meetings or other events that are
coming up. That is proper and right. But when Members of Congress are
able to send out what is basically campaign mail at taxpayer expense,
that's simply not right, and it's a practice that we ought to get away
from.
I should note that over the past several years, it seems to be more
blatant and more blatant and more blatant. There are certain words you
cannot use describing yourself. There are things that are supposedly in
there to prevent this from being blatant campaign mail. But again, if I
held up two pieces, one piece of campaign literature and one piece
mailed at taxpayer expense, I think the average constituent would have
a hard time telling the difference. And that money that we save from
getting rid of that practice should be applied against the deficit as
well. Again, I thank the gentlelady for introducing this legislation. I
hope that in the future we can go further.
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Representative
Heller, the distinguished gentleman from Nevada.
Mr. HELLER. I thank my friend for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in
support of H.R. 4825. I commend my colleague from Arizona for bringing
this legislation to the floor. Our $12 trillion debt will burden future
generations, and this legislation before us today is a good start. But
I think Congress must and can do more.
You don't have to go any further than the unemployment rates in this
country. As you well know, Madam Speaker, the unemployment rate
nationwide is around 10 percent. In my State, it's closer to 13
percent. In fact, in some counties in my district, it exceeds 17
percent. Foreclosure rates are high. Families in my district and
throughout my State are losing their homes. Foreclosure rates in Nevada
were four times higher than the national average. Families are making
tough, tough decisions in the State of Nevada, and they're asking the
question, Why aren't we making these same tough decisions here in
Washington? And the reason is is that Washington feels no pain. We are
in a recession-proof zone here in Washington, D.C. As we have in the
last year hired more than 120,000 new Federal employees across this
country, States and local governments are cutting their budgets,
families are cutting their budgets, small businessmen are cutting their
budgets, medium-sized businessmen are cutting their budgets. And yet
here in Washington, D.C., we feel no pain. I think sending the unused
congressional budget account funds to pay down the debt is one thing,
but stopping the growth of this account is another.
The MRA account has grown nearly 50 percent since 2000. I introduced
the reduction of irresponsible MRA, or the TRIM Growth Act, to prevent
the MRA from increasing during times of high unemployment or public
debt. My legislation would prevent the MRA from increasing unless
national unemployment is under 6 percent or less for at least 6 months,
consistent with the unemployment levels of the 1990s, or unless
Congress reduces the national debt to less than $5.5 trillion, which
was a reduction of 50 percent at the time this bill was drafted.
Congress ultimately needs to feel the same pain as the American
people. Financial challenges facing our Nation cannot be solved in one
day. And as public servants, Members of Congress must lead by example.
In addition to passing this legislation today, I urge my colleagues to
join me in supporting the TRIM Growth Act. Let's show the Americans who
are figuring out their family budgets at the kitchen table today that
they are not alone.
Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the
remaining time.
I strongly support this bill, and I thank my colleagues from Arizona
and Michigan for offering it. Not only is it an excellent proposal, but
the timing is perfect, as the 2011 appropriations process begins. The
annual bill that funds the House usually includes this language, but
only if offered in the Appropriations Committee or on the floor, and
even then, as legislation, the language is technically subject to a
point of order that could block it. Our two colleagues rightly asked,
Why should Congress have to enact this provision every year, and why
not make it permanent?
So with that, I urge an ``aye'' vote.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4825.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas
and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________