[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E959-E960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. KENDRA S. HORN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2019

  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, the U.S. Government is 
entrusted by the American people with certain responsibilities. One of 
these responsibilities is managing our government's finances and using 
taxpayer dollars wisely. In the last few decades, our government 
leaders have too often ignored this responsibility, opting rather to 
pay lip service to responsibly managing our budget but neglecting to do 
so in practice. This neglect has led to rampant spending, missed 
budgetary deadlines, and burdensome borrowing that have become 
mainstays of every Congress, regardless of which party holds the 
majority. The 116th Congress must take action to break this 
unsustainable cycle and restore the fiscal responsibility Americans 
have entrusted us with.
  The 2019 GAO High-Risk List reveals that many federal government 
programs are over budget. This financial situation is not specific to 
one government agency or program. It can be found across the federal 
government. America must remain a world leader in many areas, such as 
scientific research, reliable infrastructure, and defense technology, 
and I understand that to do so requires large financial investments. 
However, it is also my responsibility as a Member of Congress to ensure 
the money our government spends is

[[Page E960]]

being used effectively and efficiently so Americans are getting the 
most out of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
  I have made it a priority to support legislation that addresses our 
government's spending habits. As a member of the House Armed Services 
Committee, I put forth a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense 
Authorization Act (NDAA) with fellow Oklahoman, Congressman Tom Cole, 
to allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to have better oversight of 
where and how government defense money is being spent. The amendment 
requires the office of the Inspector General to audit all sole-source 
contracts with depot maintenance centers. This audit, and other 
financial accounting tools, act as accountability measures to ensure 
the government is being a good steward of taxpayer money while keeping 
our country safe.
  As a member of the Government Efficiency Caucus and the Blue Dog 
Coalition, I am constantly working with my colleagues to find ways to 
promote responsible government spending. The bipartisan Government 
Efficiency Caucus works to find pragmatic solutions to government 
spending that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government 
programs. The Blue Dog Coalition's Fiscal Responsibility Task Force 
analyzes ways to strengthen our fiscal responsibility and close the 
cycle of widespread government spending.
  During the 116th Congress, the Government Efficiency Caucus has 
identified three priorities to improve the government's fiscal 
efficiency. These priorities include focusing on ensuring government 
agencies adopt monetary best practices to increase efficiency and 
effectiveness; supporting reasonable policy proposals that will improve 
the on-time, on-budget delivery of federal infrastructure investments; 
and modernizing the federal government workforce to ensure government 
employees have the skills, knowledge, and technology, to be good 
stewards of taxpayer money.
  The Blue Dog Coalition's Fiscal Responsivity Task Force has released 
a set of policy proposals that include financial stability measures 
like creating a federal rainy-day fund so Congress is less reliant on 
massive, unplanned emergency spending when disasters strike. Another 
proposal emphasizes a return to the regular process of creating and 
passing the federal budget on time every year. This proposal outlines 
concepts like ``No Budget, No Pay'' and ``No Budget, No Recess,'' which 
would increase the consequences on Congress for not passing a federal 
budget on time. These and other proposals outlined by the Blue Dog 
Fiscal Responsibility Task Force should be given extensive 
consideration by Congress, so our government can correct the bad fiscal 
habits it has developed.
  Future generations of Americans should not have to pay for our 
irresponsible spending. It is up to us to get America's fiscal house in 
order so we can prove to the world that we are a nation that keeps its 
fiscal promises. Doing so will not only improve our government and its 
standing in the world, but also increase the faith that taxpayers have 
in the government to spend their money wisely.

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