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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E959-E960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
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speech of
HON. KENDRA S. HORN
of oklahoma
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, the U.S. Government is
entrusted by the American people with certain responsibilities. One of
these responsibilities is managing our government's finances and using
taxpayer dollars wisely. In the last few decades, our government
leaders have too often ignored this responsibility, opting rather to
pay lip service to responsibly managing our budget but neglecting to do
so in practice. This neglect has led to rampant spending, missed
budgetary deadlines, and burdensome borrowing that have become
mainstays of every Congress, regardless of which party holds the
majority. The 116th Congress must take action to break this
unsustainable cycle and restore the fiscal responsibility Americans
have entrusted us with.
The 2019 GAO High-Risk List reveals that many federal government
programs are over budget. This financial situation is not specific to
one government agency or program. It can be found across the federal
government. America must remain a world leader in many areas, such as
scientific research, reliable infrastructure, and defense technology,
and I understand that to do so requires large financial investments.
However, it is also my responsibility as a Member of Congress to ensure
the money our government spends is
[[Page E960]]
being used effectively and efficiently so Americans are getting the
most out of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
I have made it a priority to support legislation that addresses our
government's spending habits. As a member of the House Armed Services
Committee, I put forth a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) with fellow Oklahoman, Congressman Tom Cole,
to allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to have better oversight of
where and how government defense money is being spent. The amendment
requires the office of the Inspector General to audit all sole-source
contracts with depot maintenance centers. This audit, and other
financial accounting tools, act as accountability measures to ensure
the government is being a good steward of taxpayer money while keeping
our country safe.
As a member of the Government Efficiency Caucus and the Blue Dog
Coalition, I am constantly working with my colleagues to find ways to
promote responsible government spending. The bipartisan Government
Efficiency Caucus works to find pragmatic solutions to government
spending that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government
programs. The Blue Dog Coalition's Fiscal Responsibility Task Force
analyzes ways to strengthen our fiscal responsibility and close the
cycle of widespread government spending.
During the 116th Congress, the Government Efficiency Caucus has
identified three priorities to improve the government's fiscal
efficiency. These priorities include focusing on ensuring government
agencies adopt monetary best practices to increase efficiency and
effectiveness; supporting reasonable policy proposals that will improve
the on-time, on-budget delivery of federal infrastructure investments;
and modernizing the federal government workforce to ensure government
employees have the skills, knowledge, and technology, to be good
stewards of taxpayer money.
The Blue Dog Coalition's Fiscal Responsivity Task Force has released
a set of policy proposals that include financial stability measures
like creating a federal rainy-day fund so Congress is less reliant on
massive, unplanned emergency spending when disasters strike. Another
proposal emphasizes a return to the regular process of creating and
passing the federal budget on time every year. This proposal outlines
concepts like ``No Budget, No Pay'' and ``No Budget, No Recess,'' which
would increase the consequences on Congress for not passing a federal
budget on time. These and other proposals outlined by the Blue Dog
Fiscal Responsibility Task Force should be given extensive
consideration by Congress, so our government can correct the bad fiscal
habits it has developed.
Future generations of Americans should not have to pay for our
irresponsible spending. It is up to us to get America's fiscal house in
order so we can prove to the world that we are a nation that keeps its
fiscal promises. Doing so will not only improve our government and its
standing in the world, but also increase the faith that taxpayers have
in the government to spend their money wisely.
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