[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 37 (Thursday, February 29, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESTORING FISCAL ORDER
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for 5 minutes.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation faces a myriad of catastrophes,
one of which is an open southern border and the mass migration of
illegal aliens, Washington's fiscal house sits in utter disrepair.
That is the reality we face. If we don't grasp the reins soon and
stamp out wasteful spending, our Nation will suffer serious
consequences that will continue to compound.
Not a penny of taxpayer money should be directed to frivolous
spending binges overseas while the southern border is sitting wide
open. We should take care of our country's needs first.
American families and hardworking taxpayers across the Nation demand
that action be taken to cut spending, restore fiscal sanity, and get
our country moving in the right direction.
Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly agree with them, and I have taken
action to restore fiscal order in Washington.
To cut wasteful spending and protect taxpayer dollars from rampant
abuse, I have supported commonsense amendments to the ongoing fiscal
year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Operations
appropriations package. These amendments slash funding for the United
States Agency for International Development by half, transfer millions
of dollars from the Peace Corps budget to the spending reduction
account, eliminate millions in funding for the Global Environment
Facility fund, and prohibit funds from being used to implement the
Paris climate agreement.
Our children, grandchildren, and future generations of proud
Americans to come deserve fiscal order in Washington and our country's
needs being put first. Anything less is entirely unacceptable.
In addition to my continuing efforts to uphold fiscal order and put
the needs of our country first, I have also cosponsored H.R. 2445, the
Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act, legislation which
would establish an office for an inspector general for Ukraine
assistance to oversee all funding made available in support of Ukraine.
Specifically, this legislation requires the President's nominee to
serve as the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance to be
confirmed by the Senate; directs the Special Inspector General for
Ukraine Assistance to submit quarterly reports to Congress on
obligations and expenditures of U.S. funds and the provision of
military equipment; requires a report on the Ukrainian Government's
compliance with anticorruption measures and comparisons of America's
contribution to Ukraine to those from our NATO allies.
Mr. Speaker, oversight of taxpayer dollars and resources should never
be cast aside or abandoned. We can stamp out wasteful spending, put our
country's needs first, and ensure effective oversight of taxpayer
dollars all at the same time.
My record on cutting wasteful spending is clear, and I will always
fight to ensure that the dollars of hardworking taxpayers are not only
respected but also protected.
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