[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 113 (Tuesday, July 26, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

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                               speech of

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2551) making 
     appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes:

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chair, our Nation faces a significant budget deficit 
and a growing national debt, and we must look for simple, common sense 
solutions to cut spending as Congress and President Obama work toward a 
comprehensive, balanced deficit reduction package that will put our 
Nation on a path to fiscal stability. Members of Congress must lead by 
example.
  As a State Senator in Michigan, I ran my office so efficiently that I 
was able to return a full year's operating budget to Michigan 
taxpayers. When I came to Congress at the beginning of 2009, I made it 
a priority to run my office efficiently, come in under budget, and 
return the difference to taxpayers. Last session, my office came in 
$320,000 under budget, and I am continuing my efforts to save taxpayer 
dollars at every opportunity.
  I rise today to express my support for Section 101 of the Legislative 
Branch Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2012. This provision ensures 
that all unused fiscal year 2012 funds from each congressional office 
account, known as a Member's Representational Allowance (or MRA), be 
deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction.
  Last session, I sponsored legislation that would require all future 
unspent MRA funds be put toward deficit reduction, and give this 
requirement the force of law. This bill passed the House with 
overwhelming bipartisan support. Unfortunately, the Senate did not take 
action.
  While it is encouraging that the legislation we consider today 
contains a similar provision, this will only apply to unused funds for 
next year. This is why I introduced H.R. 262, the bipartisan Mandatory 
Returning of Allowances Act with my colleague, Representative Steve 
Scalise. This bill will ensure that all future unused MRA funds, not 
just fiscal year 2012 funds, are automatically and permanently used for 
deficit reduction.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Mandatory Returning of Allowances 
Act, and hope that House leadership will consider bringing this 
legislation to the floor for a vote.

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