Hal Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The continuing resolution on the floor today represents the largest reduction in non-security discretionary spending in the history of the Nation. It funds the Federal Government for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year, but, most importantly, Mr. Chairman, it answers taxpayers' callings to right our Nation's fiscal ship, making specific, substantive and comprehensive spending reductions, cutting more than $100 billion, compared with the President's fiscal 2011 budget request. This CR reverses a trend of out-of-control Democrat spending over the last 2 years that has increased overall discretionary funding, including stimulus, by 84 percent in 2 years. Never before has Congress undertaken a task of this magnitude, but never before have we been faced with a deficit crisis of this scale. The government is borrowing over 40 cents of every dollar that it spends. Our constituents sent us a clear, decisive message in the last election. They want government to spend less, stop undue interference in American lives and businesses, and take action to create jobs and get our economy moving again. Through the Republican Pledge to America, we made the commitment to do just that, and today we offer the first step in fulfilling these promises by presenting a spending package to the American people that makes deep but manageable cuts in nearly every area of the government. This bill is about shared commitments and shared sacrifice. Make no mistake: These cuts will not be easy, and they will affect every congressional district. But they are necessary and long overdue. Although we recognize that every dollar we cut has a constituency of support, an association, an industry, individual citizens who will disagree with our decision, these cuts are the necessary difficult work by our subcommittees to make the smartest and fairest reductions possible. No stones were left unturned, no programs were held sacred. The Appropriations Committee went line by line to craft a responsible, judicious CR, one that will allow our economy to thrive, our businesses to create jobs and our national security to be strengthened. Our subcommittees scoured the budget for wasteful activities and cleaned out excessive and unnecessary spending, while prioritizing the most essential and effective programs, including $460 million for accelerating the process through which veterans resolve their health care claims and an additional $13 million for increased oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, TARP. The CR includes absolutely no earmark funding and eliminates all previous earmark funding from fiscal year 2010, saving taxpayers approximately $8.5 billion. Furthermore, it includes a provision to eliminate any unobligated stimulus funding approved in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, another $5 billion of taxpayer dollars saved. As we help put our Nation's budget back into balance, we are finding real savings that are justifiable to the American people and that will stop the dangerous spiral of unsustainable and irresponsible deficits. In addition, this CR is only the first of many appropriations bills this year that will significantly trim Federal spending. It is hard- and-fast proof that we are serious about returning our Nation to a sustainable financial and fiscal path. However, so that we can continue the important work of reducing spending in our regular budgetary work for this year, the House, Senate, and White House must come together to complete this process before March 4, when our current funding measure expires. It is critically important that the House move this CR to avoid a government shutdown and get these spending cuts passed by the House, over to the Senate, and let them act their will to avoid a shutdown, and then get the bill to the President. The American people expect no less. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the chairman of the Republican Conference in the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling).

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin, a brand new Member of this body, Mr. Duffy. (Mr. DUFFY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), the chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Alderholt).

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the chairman of the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), former chairman of the Republican Conference in the House. (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield 2 minutes to the chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw).

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield 2 minutes to a new Member of Congress, a freshman and a new member of the Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from a wonderful place in Arkansas called Rogers, Arkansas (Mr. Womack).

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, in order to move things along, we have to have rules, and I have to object.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Chairman, as I understand it, the gentleman wants to go back to a section which we have already covered?

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield to the chairman of the subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1 and insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your great service to our country over the time we have served together here. We are classmates from 1980. We were part of the Reagan crop. Madam Speaker, this is the first step in the effort to reduce discretionary spending to fiscal 2008 levels or below and show the American people that we are serious about reducing the out-of-control government spending that is hampering our economic growth. Now, the gentleman on the other side of the aisle complains that he does not see a number. Well, he had a chance last year, along with his colleagues in the majority then at that time, to pass a budget resolution with specific numbers in it, and refused. And they refused until they lost control of the House. The number will be coming in due course of time. The message from the American people was crystal clear in the last election: they want government to spend less, stop undue interference in American lives and businesses, and take action to create jobs and get our economy moving once again. To do this, we must dramatically cut the massive spending that has dominated discretionary budgets in past years. In order to put our economy on the fast track to recovery, we have to shorten the reach of Uncle Sam, cut up his credit cards, and allow Americans' businesses the opportunity to grow, employ people, and make the economy grow. Starting with the continuing resolution, the CR, my committee will begin to make the largest series of spending cuts in history, Madam Speaker. Members and staff are working diligently on this as we speak, going line by line to find specific areas and programs to cut. We hope and expect this legislation will soon be brought to the floor in a fair, open and transparent manner, giving all Members from both sides of the aisle an opportunity for amendments. Let there be no mistake: the cuts that are coming will not be easy to make. They will not represent low-hanging fruit. These cuts will go deep and wide and will hit virtually every agency and every congressional district in the country, including my own. Every dollar that we cut will have a constituency, an industry, an association, and individual citizens who will disagree. And every dollar that we don't cut will also be put into question. But the fact remains that we are in a national fiscal crisis. We must get our budgets--both discretionary and mandatory--under control. To this end, my committee will put forward appropriations bills this year that will fulfill our pledge to cut spending to the pre-stimulus, pre- bailout levels of 2008. And this will be the beginning--not the end--of the effort. I have issued instructions to all 12 of our subcommittees to conduct strenuous oversight, including investigations and hundreds of hearings to weed out duplicative, wasteful and unnecessary spending, and prioritize Federal programs so we can make the most out of every precious tax dollar. Madam Speaker, it is clear that cutting spending will require toughness and resolve. This will not be easy, it will not be quick, and it won't be without pain, but the success of our economy and our future prosperity depend on it.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this is a historic time for this Congress, this House and my committee. I can say without a moment's hesitation that this day represents a crucial turning point for our Nation as this new Congress begins a path to fiscal sanity. With this resolution today, Congress will begin immediately to reduce spending, starting here and now with our own office budgets and our committee budgets and the like. To demonstrate my strong commitment to slashing spending, reducing our national deficit and getting our economy back on track, I have directed my own committee budget to be cut not by 5 percent, Mr. Speaker, but by 9 percent, nearly double the amount of reduction proposed for other House offices. What the Appropriations Committee is saying to all other committees is, we see your five; we raise you four. So we are cutting 9 percent. This year, the Appropriations Committee will be ground zero for a wide range of reductions across the Federal Government; and by cutting our own budget first, Mr. Speaker, we are showing we are willing to lead by example. This is a critical time for the Appropriations Committee, as we will carry out the most expansive reduction of discretionary spending in the history of this country. Under my watch, the Appropriations Committee will be an instrument of change, to enforce the will of the American people. My Republican colleagues on the committee and I are ready to stand and fight for the American people and show that we are serious about our commitment to rein in government spending and control our exploding deficits. Yet it is important to remember that slashing spending to save taxpayer dollars and reducing the size of government is a means to an end. We must always keep our eyes on the ultimate goal--improving our economy, getting our people back to work and safeguarding the Nation's financial security for the future. The one and only mandate that we received from the American people in November, in my judgment, was to put our economy and jobs first. This is why people came to the polls and voted for a change in this body, and this is the duty that we must fulfill. To this end, it is clear that this Congress cannot let favored, yet troublesome, programs slip by or allow turf battles to cloud our shared interest in protecting the taxpayer. Our budget ax will swing wide and true, and no area of the Federal Government will be immune from our scrutiny and cuts. Sacred cows are, for all intents and purposes, extinct. Mr. Speaker, we have a big job ahead of us. While this resolution is a small step forward, it is a giant leap to show, in a very personal and practical way, the commitment we have to reducing spending and getting our economy back on track. The first drawn blood is ours.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for yielding time. It's been a real pleasure, and I mean that very sincerely, working under the leadership of Jerry Lewis on our side of the aisle, both as chairman and as ranking member of this committee for these last 6 years. He has been gracious in every way. He has lent his talent and his wisdom to us as we prepare to do business. And not the least, he has volunteered his terrific staff, led by Jeff Shockey, to help us in the transition. And I can't say enough to thank Jerry Lewis and all of the staff for all the great work that you have done for the country and continue to do. And we have got some heavy work cut out for you as well, and for the staff. Madam Speaker, in my vocabulary, one of the most complimentary things I could say is a person is a difference maker. A difference maker sees circumstances that are not correct and applies wisdom and intelligence and perseverance and talent to change. And I can't think of a bigger difference maker--sometimes I thought in the wrong direction, but a difference maker--than David Obey. During my tenure here, coinciding with his, we have watched him over the years with that tenacity and innovation, sometimes blustery, sometimes entertaining, but always very efficient. And we will miss David Obey in this body. This is the last chance that we will have, perhaps, to say good-bye and best wishes. But I think I speak for the entire body when we say to David Obey, Thank you for your service to America. Thank you for your leadership and your talent on this committee. And we wish you the very best in your future endeavors, especially during the next week as we all celebrate the birth of the Christ child. And to Beverly and to Jeff and all of the staff on both sides of the aisle, the long hours that these people put in so that the rest of us can look good perhaps is not appreciated fully, and we need to continuously do that. So to David Obey, bon voyage, best of luck to you. And thank you, Jerry, for the great service you are rendering your country.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding. He is a true gentleman. The long service that this man has contributed to the welfare of the Nation and to its defense, we can never repay Jerry Lewis for the great job he has done as chairman and ranking member of this committee. Mr. Speaker, how can we explain this year's so-called budget process to the American people? Should I begin with the historic failure to enact a budget resolution? How about the despicable way special interest bailout funds were dumped on the backs of our troops during the war supplemental debate? What about the Band-aid border security supplemental that was used for political cover just months before the President proposed cutting the Border Patrol? And who could forget the fact that this year marks the first year, the very first year, the House has failed to pass a Homeland Security appropriations bill, a failure that came in the midst of several serious terrorist attacks and disrupted plots? Then there are the results: no discipline, no oversight, no bills. Instead, we have this monstrosity before us today, a measure that punts our fiscal and oversight responsibilities into a year-long CR that is laden with exceptions, gimmicks, and riders. And it is based upon a strategy of the Senate overriding this bill with a gigantic unaffordable omnibus bill that has never seen the light of day. Mr. Speaker, that is not a budget process. That is a failure of epic proportions. As we were resoundingly told just 5 weeks ago, the American taxpayers are demanding far better from the stewards of their precious, but limited, dollars. We need a whole new ball game; no more bucking tough decisions, no more failing to prioritize our security needs, no more letting failing programs slide, and no more enabling the overreach of Federal agencies. We need to go back to the tough job of oversight. We need to go back and usher in a new era of collaboration and transparency. And we need to do the hard work of cutting spending, right-sizing the government, and restoring the trust of the American people. This CR marks the culmination of failure on all fronts: process, product and performance. I urge my returning colleagues to reject this legislation and prepare to go to work in the 112th Congress.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Today's CR is nothing but a continuation of the culture of overspending, persistence of a broken process, and a refusal to make the tough decisions, end earmarks, and do the job we were sent here to do. As a result, our Federal spending is off the charts. We are staring at another trillion-dollar budget deficit. Debts are stacking up over $13 trillion. Unemployment continues to hover around 10 percent, and congressional approval by the public remains at an all-time and dangerous low. For the past 2 years, the administration has been given a free hand, with an unlimited credit card. The results are mind-boggling: 27 percent in growth in nondefense discretionary spending since 2008. And that's not including the bailouts and a failed stimulus package. Meanwhile, the Appropriations Committee has not done its job. No checks, no balances, no discipline, no bills. What do we have to show for our work this year on the committee and in the Congress? A 2-week extension of more of the same. A date change is the sum total of the work of the Appropriations Committee. Disappointing to say the least. I believe we can do much better by severely cutting spending, conducting rigorous and thoughtful oversight, changing the culture of appropriations, and performing outreach inside and outside the Congress. Fortunately, I believe wholesale change is on the way, Mr. Speaker. We have got to cut discretionary spending and exert fiscal discipline on fat agencies. We have got to stop the administration's regulatory war on small businesses and working families and rein in the out-of- control bureaucracies like the EPA. And we have got to start listening to the American people and their views rather than building these bills in the Speaker's office behind closed doors. Let's let the light shine in and open up some closets around that stale office. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to reject this 2-week delay, cut spending, return to regular order, and conduct our business out in the open.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Smith of Texas.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I will yield myself such time as I may consume in closing. Again, I wish we had, Madam Speaker, the bill that funds the entire Department of Homeland Security before us instead of this piecemeal approach. I don't fathom why the majority will not bring forth that bill that's been marked up since 47 days ago--6 weeks--and yet they refuse to bring it out. Instead, they bring this piecemeal bill out there that only deals with a particular aspect of the entire Homeland Security bill. And, number two, as I've said before, even if we pass this bill here, it still has to go back to the Senate before it can become law, and they're gone until the middle of September. And this bill won't spend any money until next year anyway. So that's why I say why are we doing it this way? Why can't we just bring out the bill and deal with it? It includes all of this as well. And yet the majority refuses to do that. It's all about politics, Madam Speaker. We are all concerned about that border, about the crime that is taking place, about the illicit drugs coming across, illegal people coming across. And we have devoted so much of the Nation's energy and monies to try to seal that border to little effect, it seems. And yet if we had the whole Department of Homeland Security budget here on the floor so that we could at once deal with Coast Guard, with Secret Service, with Border Patrol, with enforcement of the laws against illegal immigration, if we had all of those matters before us, we could deal with it holistically. But they won't do it. Instead, we have this bill which won't become law until next year anyway. So I ask the Speaker, why did you call us back in session on this bill knowing that it could not become law until next year anyway? Puzzlement. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Will the gentlelady yield?

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield the gentlelady 2 additional minutes.