Further Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2011

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding this time to me.

Madam Speaker, as has been pointed out, 2 weeks ago this Chamber voted emphatically to cut spending and to right-size our government. This CR that's before us today is a necessary stopgap that will keep the government operating until we can finalize an agreement on those spending cuts that was contained in H.R. 1.

The homeland security sections of the CR before us today strikes the right balance between funding priority programs that are essential to our Nation's security and, at the same time, keeping our discretionary spending in check. This CR cuts over $264 million in earmarks from the Department of Homeland Security's budget, while at the same time sustaining the current staffing levels of our frontline operating agencies like Border Patrol, CBP, ICE, and the Coast Guard, proof that we can cut spending and fund these functions of government that are truly vital.

As I said 2 weeks ago on this floor, the Department of Homeland Security is not immune from fiscal discipline, and no program or agency is beyond the belt-tightening that our government so desperately needs.

By implementing these cuts, we are not choosing between homeland security and fiscal responsibility. Both are serious national security issues that must be dealt with immediately. Through a series of prudent choices, this CR achieves both.

Madam Speaker, this CR is a reasonable first step in addressing our government's fiscal crisis. There is absolutely no reason why the President or our colleagues in the Senate cannot support these overdue spending cuts. The American people are demanding no less.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source