Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011

Floor Speech

* Mr. HIMES. Mr. Chair, I rise today to support the Latham Amendment to the Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Appropriations bill. I support this amendment in lieu of the very similar amendment I sponsored to cut unnecessary and duplicative programs in an effort to save taxpayer dollars.

* As the economy begins its recovery, it is critical that we begin to get our fiscal house in order. Our nation's deficit grows larger every day; our national debt now tops $13 trillion.

* Earlier this year, I stood before you and called for serious and smart reductions in spending.

* I committed to opposing any spending that would not lead to at least a one percent total cut in the budget, excluding entitlements such as Medicare, veterans' pensions, and Social Security. According to last year's budget numbers, a cut of this size would save approximately $12 billion in just one year.

* Going above and beyond that promise, and frustrated with the current approach to deficit spending, I joined three of my house colleagues in introducing 4 bills, each highlighting specific programmatic cuts that together would save $70 billion over the next ten years.

* While small, across the board, percentage cuts on spending bills as many of my colleagues in the House support is one way to begin to reduce our overall spending, I believe that now is the time to bring specific ideas to the table. This prospect is not easy, and must be done carefully and thoughtfully.

* To that end, I joined with a group of colleagues similarly committed to cutting spending and drafted an amendment that would have put in place a number of these types of cuts. However, it became clear that my amendment did not have the support it needed to pass. The Majority party was unwilling to make the tough choices to cut spending, and the Minority party refused to support an amendment offered by the opposite party.

* The intent of the Latham Amendment mirrors the intent Peters Amendment. The cuts in this amendment are also in the spirit of the recommendations set forth by the Administration. In his budget proposal, the President worked with the Secretaries of each federal agency to determine which programs work and which programs don't work. They worked to determine which programs need more funding to reach their intended goal, and which programs must be reorganized and even in some cases terminated because they are ineffective or duplicative.

* We must listen to our cabinet secretaries, those with the most acute knowledge of the inner workings of their agencies, and fund their programmatic needs while cutting funding for programs that they deem either ineffective or complete in achieving their intended purpose.

* Cutting budgets is never easy. Vulnerable people who need assistance depend on our help. Forward-thinking investment is critical to long-term prosperity. Of particular importance to me are housing programs--programs that I have dedicated a significant portion of my career to improving and creating. I support these programs in principle and am committed to ensuring their functions remain fulfilled. However, in these situations where duplicate, inefficient, and nonexistent programs are still receiving funding, we must take action and make cuts, both to protect taxpayer dollars and to protect the populations these programs are intended to serve. I am also acutely aware of the struggles of those in the transportation industry, especially in Connecticut, where the unemployment rate continues to grow. I intend to continue to look for ways to spur job creation while bringing down our federal deficit.

* The federal budgeting process should reflect an effort to make cuts where alternative programs--public or private--could work better; make investments in areas, like education and infrastructure, the will fuel future prosperity; and change programs where efficiencies can be achieved.

* The amendment I supported today maintains those priorities while helping put our country on a path toward fiscal sustainability.

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