[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 114 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1517-E1518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JAMES A. HIMES

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5850) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. HIMES. Mr. Chair, I rise today to support the Latham Amendment to 
the Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Appropriations bill. I 
support this amendment in lieu of the very similar amendment I 
sponsored to cut unnecessary and duplicative programs in an effort to 
save taxpayer dollars.
  As the economy begins its recovery, it is critical that we begin to 
get our fiscal house in order. Our nation's deficit grows larger every 
day; our national debt now tops $13 trillion.

[[Page E1518]]

  Earlier this year, I stood before you and called for serious and 
smart reductions in spending.
  I committed to opposing any spending that would not lead to at least 
a one percent total cut in the budget, excluding entitlements such as 
Medicare, veterans' pensions, and Social Security. According to last 
year's budget numbers, a cut of this size would save approximately $12 
billion in just one year.
  Going above and beyond that promise, and frustrated with the current 
approach to deficit spending, I joined three of my house colleagues in 
introducing 4 bills, each highlighting specific programmatic cuts that 
together would save $70 billion over the next ten years.
  While small, across the board, percentage cuts on spending bills as 
many of my colleagues in the House support is one way to begin to 
reduce our overall spending, I believe that now is the time to bring 
specific ideas to the table. This prospect is not easy, and must be 
done carefully and thoughtfully.
  To that end, I joined with a group of colleagues similarly committed 
to cutting spending and drafted an amendment that would have put in 
place a number of these types of cuts. However, it became clear that my 
amendment did not have the support it needed to pass. The Majority 
party was unwilling to make the tough choices to cut spending, and the 
Minority party refused to support an amendment offered by the opposite 
party.
  The intent of the Latham Amendment mirrors the intent Peters 
Amendment. The cuts in this amendment are also in the spirit of the 
recommendations set forth by the Administration. In his budget 
proposal, the President worked with the Secretaries of each federal 
agency to determine which programs work and which programs don't work. 
They worked to determine which programs need more funding to reach 
their intended goal, and which programs must be reorganized and even in 
some cases terminated because they are ineffective or duplicative.
  We must listen to our cabinet secretaries, those with the most acute 
knowledge of the inner workings of their agencies, and fund their 
programmatic needs while cutting funding for programs that they deem 
either ineffective or complete in achieving their intended purpose.
  Cutting budgets is never easy. Vulnerable people who need assistance 
depend on our help. Forward-thinking investment is critical to long-
term prosperity. Of particular importance to me are housing programs--
programs that I have dedicated a significant portion of my career to 
improving and creating. I support these programs in principle and am 
committed to ensuring their functions remain fulfilled. However, in 
these situations where duplicate, inefficient, and nonexistent programs 
are still receiving funding, we must take action and make cuts, both to 
protect taxpayer dollars and to protect the populations these programs 
are intended to serve. I am also acutely aware of the struggles of 
those in the transportation industry, especially in Connecticut, where 
the unemployment rate continues to grow. I intend to continue to look 
for ways to spur job creation while bringing down our federal deficit.
  The federal budgeting process should reflect an effort to make cuts 
where alternative programs--public or private--could work better; make 
investments in areas, like education and infrastructure, the will fuel 
future prosperity; and change programs where efficiencies can be 
achieved.
  The amendment I supported today maintains those priorities while 
helping put our country on a path toward fiscal sustainability.

                          ____________________