[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE SENATE MUST PASS A BUDGET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Nugent) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call upon the Senate 
majority leader, Democrat Harry Reid. He set no budget this year. The 
American people, I guess, don't deserve a budget. When the Senate, on 
the 24th of January, surpassed the 1,000th day that they've yet to put 
a budget forward, Harry Reid said, Guess what, American public? You 
really don't need one.
  Even though this organization, this government, is running at a 40 
percent deficit, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, says, Don't 
worry about it. We don't need a plan, and we don't need a budget, even 
though small businesses have a budget, county and State officials have 
a budget, and you and I at home have a budget that we have to depend 
upon to guide us as we move forward throughout our year.
  We just can't wing it any longer, Mr. Reid. The American people 
demand more of us. The American people actually believe that the Senate 
should take action on bills that we, in the House, have passed. Now, 
American job creators, it's about what we are supposed to be doing 
here, not partisan politics.
  Mr. Reid, this body--this body--has had more bipartisan support on 
bills that we've sent over to the Senate only to see them die, to see 
no action at all, bills that could create jobs in America--not 
hypothetical jobs, but real jobs by people that actually create jobs, 
those in our small businesses that create 70 percent of our new jobs in 
America. Mr. Reid, the American public demands more of us as an 
institution to reach across and do the right thing.
  Mr. Speaker, all I can ask is that this body continue to put pressure 
upon the Senate, and particularly the Senate majority leader, Mr. Reid, 
to do the right thing. It doesn't matter if you pass the bills that we 
send over to you, Mr. Reid. It's about bringing them up on the Senate 
floor, debate them, and let the American people see where you stand on 
the issue. And at the end of the day, whether you vote for it or 
against it, at least the American people have seen you in action.
  The other thing the Senate can do is they can always amend any 
measure that we send over there and send it back to us. It's not to say 
that we always have the best idea, but I believe that the Senate, our 
brothers and sisters in the Senate, could have some good ideas. Attach 
them back, amend our bill, and send it back to us for us to consider 
and even go to conference if necessary.
  All we're asking is the United States Senate to take action on things 
that we, in the House, have passed, many in a very bipartisan way. If 
you remember back on January 24, on the 1,000th day, this body here--
this body--voted 410-1 to vote on a resolution calling upon the Senate 
to pass a budget, that it's of national importance that we actually 
have a budget and that the Senate be a participant in the discussions, 
not just sitting on the sidelines expecting us to carry the water.
  Mr. Speaker, we stand here today imploring our Members to do the 
right thing. Let's keep the pressure on the Senate to do the right 
thing.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will remind the Members that 
remarks in debate must be addressed to the Chair and not to others in 
the second person.

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