[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18080]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              STATEMENT AGAINST CONGRESSIONAL PAY INCREASE

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                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2007

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the current 
system of administering pay increases for Members of Congress. Since I 
was first elected by Kansans to represent them in our Nation's capital, 
I have opposed the hidden process by which Members of Congress receive 
an annual pay raise.
  Right now, the House Agriculture Committee is reauthorizing the farm 
bill. For Kansans and rural citizens across the country, this is 
perhaps the most significant piece of legislation Congress will 
consider this year. Unfortunately, the Democrat-crafted budget does not 
include enough funding to meet the needs of our Nation's agricultural 
producers, fulfill the environmental and conservation needs of our 
country and carry out food stamp and nutrition programs. Congress has 
been irresponsible with taxpayer dollars for too long and the limitless 
spending is catching up with us. Vital legislation, like the farm bill, 
that supports millions of Americans does not have the money available 
to it to meet the needs of our country.
  Members of Congress should not receive a pay increase when the 
federal budget is this tight. Congress needs to follow the lead of 
American families and cut out spending that is unnecessary. We should 
begin today by cutting out the automatic pay raise for Members of 
Congress.

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