Deficits and Debt

Our national debt has surpassed a record $20 trillion! 

It should be clear to everyone that we have to stop spending borrowed federal dollars!  When you reach your spending limit on a credit card, you cannot expect the company to increase your line of credit time and again, you have to make fiscally responsible decisions to pay down your debt.

As Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, I will work to fund the federal government in a responsible and timely way. My committee has the Constitutional responsibility to write legislation that allocates funding to federal agencies and departments, through 12 annual spending bills. Through this process I am focused on reducing the size and scope of the government by reining in federal spending, conducting rigorous but thoughtful oversight of federal agencies, and restoring fiscal discipline and regular order to our budget process.

Further, in order to stop this reckless road to reaching new records of debt we must:

• Cut government spending to protect hardworking taxpayers;
• Tackle the drivers of our debt, so our children don’t pay the price for Washington’s failure to take action;
• Restore economic freedom and ensure a level playing field for all by putting an end to special-interest favoritism and corporate welfare;
• Reform our broken tax code to spur job creation and economic opportunity by lowering rates, closing loopholes, and putting hardworking taxpayers ahead of special interests.