[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           POWER OF THE PURSE

  (Mr. CULBERSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, the Founders entrusted the power of the 
purse to the Congress because it is the most effective and powerful 
check and balance in our Constitution. It is vitally important that 
this Congress work to pass these appropriations bills in their full 
detail. We cannot continue to operate under a continuing resolution, 
which just allows the executive branch to run unchecked.
  These bills have been carefully negotiated. These bills allow the 
public to see how our hard-earned tax dollars are being spent. These 
bills enable the Congress to have some real authority over the 
executive branch.
  In the 18 years it has been my privilege to represent the people of 
west Houston, and to chair a subcommittee on appropriations, I was able 
to work together with my colleagues in putting together the largest 
hurricane recovery package in the history of the country, working 
together to make sure that our laws are enforced and that the 
Department of Justice is following the law, enforcing the law, and 
securing the border.
  These things can be done through the power of the purse, through the 
responsibility we have as Members of Congress, as appropriators. It is 
essential we pass these appropriations bills and do so in a bipartisan 
way.
  I have always worked closely with my colleagues throughout the State 
of Texas and throughout the country, regardless of party, because we 
are doing it for the good of the country. As Mr. Crowley said in his 
remarks and you can detect by the response in the House, we all work 
together arm-in-arm as patriots. Let's pass these appropriations bills 
in detail when we come back here in the next year when the CR runs out 
in February.

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