[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 901]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LET'S START BUDGETING RESPONSIBLY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the only way for 
Washington to control its spending problem is to start budgeting, and 
budgeting responsibly.
  House Republicans have passed responsible budgets for 2 consecutive 
years that restore economic growth and reduce our deficits. 
Unfortunately, the Senate has not passed a budget in 4 years, and today 
the President missed the deadline for submitting his own budget to 
Congress for the fourth time in the last 5 years.
  You don't have to look much further than these facts to learn why 
Washington has such a hard time living within its means. For this 
reason, the House is advancing a series of initiatives to force 
Washington's hand.
  On January 23, 2013, the Chamber passed the No Budget, No Pay Act, 
which forces the Senate to pass a budget or Members of Congress will 
lose their pay. This week the House will consider legislation forcing 
the President to produce a balanced budget or submit a plan that 
indicates the earliest year he believes fiscal balance can be achieved.
  Hardworking Americans run their households by setting a budget and 
then living within those means. It's time for Washington to do the 
same.

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