[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H2544-H2545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1110
                POLITICS AS USUAL IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 3 minutes.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity today to send a 
message that this Congress is serious about cutting spending, creating 
jobs and keeping the government operating. We can and we must do all 
three. It is

[[Page H2545]]

important to note, however, how we arrived at this point.
  The last Congress was the first since the modern budget process was 
instituted that neglected to pass a budget despite the Democrats having 
complete control of the Federal Government. The inaction of the last 
Congress certainly did not excuse work on our part in this Congress. 
Instead, it made our responsibility all the more critical, and Mr. 
Speaker, this House has met that responsibility.
  Through an unprecedented and lengthy debate 2 months ago, the House 
deliberated and ultimately passed a resolution, cutting $61 billion in 
Federal spending. In March, the House passed and sent to the Senate two 
short-term funding bills that cut a total of $10 billion and kept the 
government functioning. Yesterday, again, this Chamber sent to the 
Senate a bill to avoid a shutdown and to ensure that our men and women 
in uniform will be paid through the end of the fiscal year. The 
response from the Senate has been consistent--deafening silence.
  Despite their agreement on the two short-term measures, the Senate 
has not sent a single bill or a single plan for this year's budget to 
the House. They have a responsibility to act now, and I call on them to 
pass H.R. 1363 to continue cutting Federal spending and to keep the 
government open.
  Mr. Speaker, this debate is not merely about passing any budget; it 
is about passing a responsible one. Budgets, despite their countless 
line items and technical language, fundamentally reflect our priorities 
and our values as a nation.
  Over the past 3 years, the administration and the previous Congress 
have added $5 trillion to our national debt, bringing the total to over 
$14 trillion. Trillions are being spent each year to feed our spending 
addiction, with nearly 42 cents of every dollar being mortgaged against 
our children's future. Perhaps the most sobering fact is that, after 
July 27, every cent the government spends through the rest of the year 
will be borrowed. This is money that will have to be repaid by our 
children and grandchildren long after we are gone. We can no longer 
saddle the next generation with the bill for today's good intentions.
  Mr. Speaker, with America now engaged in three conflicts in the 
Middle East, with seniors worried about Social Security payments and 
with Federal services in the balance, shutting down the government 
sends the wrong message at a critical time--but so does continuing the 
spending binge that has plagued Washington for far too long. Both must 
be achieved and we must do so now.
  Mr. Speaker, this House has acted. Four times we have passed 
resolutions to keep the government functioning and to cut out-of-
control spending. The overwhelming mandate from the American people 
last November was that the status quo cannot continue, and we have 
answered. Just yesterday, while the Senate and this administration have 
stalled and delayed, we again passed a resolution that would have cut 
spending and would have met our responsibilities without interruption.
  This Chamber has acted, Mr. Speaker, and I hope the Senate and the 
administration will answer the call.

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