Omnibus Spending Bill

Floor Speech

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Madam Speaker, I rise to address the body about my position on the omnibus spending bill, which funds the government through September 30.

This spending bill does nothing to accomplish my mission to balance the Federal budget, today or any time in the future. I do not like the appropriation process and its lack of transparency in how we got to this point today. I do not like the lack of meaningful debate, nor do I like the inability to file floor amendments to the spending bill. It is inexcusable that Congress continues to wait until the last minute to perform its most important duty, which is to fund the government.

I am a freshman Member. I came to Congress to make a difference. I represent the good people of the First Congressional District of Kentucky, not a political party or any special interest. I will always put my people's best interests above politics. My objective is to fight hard for what I believe is the best for my district and then form a consensus to get things done.

Madam Speaker, I understand that I am 1 of 435 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. And as I always mention in speeches back home in Kentucky, this is a very diverse body, diverse in ideology, diverse in geography. We all have different ideas, objectives, and goals. I respect this institution and the Constitution.
In the 5 months I have been here, I have advocated for a balanced budget and term limits; and I will continue to fight to see that those two items of my agenda become law.

I have also worked hard to see that some badly needed projects in my district receive funding. I am proud to say that the following projects are funded in this bill: $270 million for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant deactivation process, which will keep 1,200 West Kentuckians working in good-paying jobs and continue to prevent illness and environmental issues in McCracken and Ballard Counties.

I am proud to represent Fort Campbell. The bill provides a pay increase for our troops and fully funds health and benefits for them and their families while providing the funding to begin rebuilding our military; language to redesignate the Pennyrile Parkway as I-169 from south of Madisonville to Hopkinsville; funding for much-needed dredging of the Hickman-Fulton Riverport, which is located just off the Mississippi River; language which prohibits the Army Corps of Engineers from charging the residents of Russell and Clinton Counties for water from Lake Cumberland; and a permanent fix to ensure healthcare benefits for retired coal miners.

Though I am disappointed in many parts of the overall bill and the appropriations process as a whole, I am very happy with the badly needed items successfully addressed for my district in this short-term funding bill. For that reason and because I do not ever want to see a government shutdown, I will vote ``yes'' on the short-term omnibus.

I will continue to work hard for conservative principles and fiscal discipline. I will continue to demand transparency through the appropriations process. I came here to get things done for the people of my district. I am sure I will never get 100 percent of what I want, but I will always try. At the end of the day, I will try to build consensus and do the things that Congress is supposed to get done, whether it be tax reform, healthcare reform, or to fund the government.

We have many responsibilities in this great body, and I pledge to be one Representative who works with our President and every Member of this body to make America great again.

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