[Page H1128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HELPING TO REFORM OUR BLOATED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

  (Mr. CLINE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, advancing the cause of our constitutional 
Republic by adopting policies that restore the confidence of the public 
in the U.S. Congress is one of the goals I have had since my election 
last November.
  The current lack of confidence is largely due to the dysfunction, 
partisanship, and distrust that is so prevalent. That is why I am proud 
to work together with my colleagues who are on the Republican Study 
Committee government reform task force and who are committed to helping 
reform our bloating Federal Government in order to expand opportunities 
for all Americans.
  Congress was established through Article I of the U.S. Constitution, 
and, as such, our Founding Fathers put the utmost responsibility in 
lawmakers to uphold their inalienable rights and to maintain proper 
transparency while doing so.
  Sadly, today's Congress has strayed far from that through Federal 
overreach. This makes the task force even more timely and important.
  The three main focuses of this task force are reforming government 
power structures, practices, and personnel policies. Each of these 
categories has a considerable amount of reform that would be meaningful 
and effective if enacted.
  I am committed to ensuring the beliefs of our Founding Fathers live 
on today through Congress' actions by reforming government so that it 
truly serves the people for whom it was created and by whom it is 
empowered.

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