[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12327-12328]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF THIS COUNTRY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, almost 7 months ago I stood in this 
Chamber and took the oath of office. It was one of the proudest days of 
my life.
  Since my swearing-in, we've worked together to change the direction 
of this country, and we've changed it for the better. We've cut Federal 
spending by $361 billion. We've repealed an unpopular and unwanted 
government health care plan. And we've started dialing back some of the 
overregulation that's been slowing our economic growth.
  During my short time here in Washington, I've heard some very 
passionate arguments, and I've seen some very heated debates. But they 
are nothing, Mr. Speaker, like the angry, confusing, misleading 
rhetoric I've heard in the last 2 weeks regarding the raising of the 
debt ceiling.
  Some media reports around the Capitol make it seem like we will never 
come to an agreement. Not only are Democrats and Republicans seemingly 
miles apart, but it appears as if both parties have splintered 
internally. The bickering is dividing our government. It's dividing the 
American people, and it's bringing us to the brink of financial 
disaster.
  Based on the calls my office has received over the past several days, 
my neighbors back in northeastern Pennsylvania want it to stop. They 
want a solution, and I'm sure every one of you and your neighbors back 
home do too.
  There is no such thing as the perfect deal. There is no such thing as 
complete and total victory. Many of us came here opposed to raising the 
debt ceiling. Many of us prefer the Cut, Cap and Balance approach. Many 
on the other side prefer a clean debt ceiling increase with no spending 
cuts.
  While the Budget Control Act is far from perfect, it accommodates the 
priorities of the people sitting on both sides of the table, both sides 
of the aisle, and both sides of the Capitol. If we, in this Chamber, if 
our friends in the other Chamber, or if the President holds out for the 
perfect plan, well, the United States will likely default on its 
obligations. As the responsible stewards of the people's government, we 
cannot let that happen. And I am confident that we will not let it 
happen.
  But we need to work together. We need to trust each other. We need to 
realize that the perfect deal is neither possible nor practical.
  We are at a critical moment in our history. This country has lived 
far beyond its means for far too long. The out-of-control spending has 
been going on in Washington for generations. Governments spent as if 
there were no tomorrow; and now we and our children and our 
grandchildren are left to pay the price.
  I know the debt ceiling has been raised before, to the benefit of 
both Republican and Democratic administrations. Well, I wasn't there 
then and I didn't create this mess, but I'm sure going to clean it up, 
and that's why I'm here. That's why the people of northeastern 
Pennsylvania sent me here.
  And while the thought of re-election should never, never enter 
anyone's mind when we're doing the people's business, let me say that 
this issue is far bigger than the next election. This issue is far 
bigger than one man or one branch of government or one political party.
  How we solve this looming crisis is the defining issue of this 
Congress. We can either continue on the path that we've been on, a path 
of reckless spending, of increasing taxes, of mounting debts and 
deficits; or we can change our direction. We can put the brakes on the 
out-of-control spending. We can forge a new direction, one of fiscal 
responsibility, one of capped spending, one of balanced budgets.
  We can send a message to the American people and to the world that 
the United States is getting its fiscal house in order. And if we do 
that, we can bring stability to the shaky global economy. We can 
reassure skeptical business owners and encourage them to create jobs. 
And we can create a better financial future for our children and our 
grandchildren.

[[Page 12328]]

  I believe our choice is clear. I ask my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle, when you reach for your voting cards today, first take a 
glance at the pictures in your wallets, of your children and your 
grandchildren.
  We are not Republicans; we are not Democrats. We are Americans. 
Today, let's put the American people first.

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