[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TIGHTENING FISCAL BELT

  (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, during these tough economic times, American 
families have been forced to cut back and tighten their financial 
belts. It is time that Congress do the same and set an example for the 
rest of the Federal Government.
  That is why I have introduced the Congressional Belt Tightening Act 
of 2010, which would cut our salaries as Members of Congress and our 
office budgets by 5 percent next year. Last year, my office tightened 
its financial belt and returned more than 8 percent of our official 
office budget to the Treasury for deficit reduction.
  Additionally, we should pass legislation that requires votes on pay 
raises every year, no more automatic pay raises. My bill would require 
an up-or-down vote on all salary increases indefinitely. If Members 
think they are deserving of a pay raise, they will have to vote on it 
or answer to the American people.
  Congress cannot seriously talk about reining in spending in 
Washington and working to decrease our Nation's debt if we are not 
willing to do it ourselves.

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