[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND FURTHER ADDITIONAL CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 7, 2011

  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1363 because it provides funding for the Department of Defense for the 
remainder of the current fiscal year and cuts an additional $12 billion 
in discretionary spending. This bill is just one step in significantly 
reducing spending and reining in our historic deficits. Unfortunately, 
President Obama and Senator Reid have not made a similar commitment to 
get our fiscal house in order.
  We must remember that the reason we are in this situation in the 
first place is that the previous Democrat majority never got around to 
passing a budget for fiscal year 2011. Let's remember that Democrats 
controlled the House, the Senate and the White House, yet they shirked 
their duty by not even presenting a budget plan, leaving mountains of 
debt for others to deal with.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important troop funding 
legislation, and let's continue down the road of fiscal responsibility.

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