[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.

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