Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, our national debt continues to pose a serious
threat to our future economic growth and national security. If we fail
to act, these threats will grow and the risk to our country will be far
greater.

Like so many American households know all too well, balancing a
budget is never easy. The budget process requires us to make a number
of hard choices between priorities we all support. However, there is no
doubt that if we fail to make these difficult decisions today, we will
face even more ominous options in the years ahead.

If we followed President Obama's budget plan that's exactly where it
would take us--more spending, more debt, and more kicking the can down
the road. That's not leadership.

Thankfully, House Republicans have chosen to once again pursue a
responsible path that leads to a truly balanced budget. I want to
applaud Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price and the rest of our
colleagues on the committee for drafting a budget that cuts more than
$5 trillion in spending and balances the budget in less than 10 years
without raising taxes.

The House budget will enhance our economic future by calling for a
fairer, simpler tax code and repealing the job-killing provisions in
ObamaCare, including its taxes, regulations and mandates. The plan
promotes freedom of choice, affordability, and patient-centered heath
care solutions.

In order to protect our national security, the House budget will
ensure necessary funding is provided for troop training, equipment and
compensation. Defense spending under the plan will be greater than the
level proposed in the President's budget and will ensure readiness. The
budget also includes provisions that will improve the efficiency in the
Defense Department, including the civilian workforce. Specifically, the
budget contains language that echoes the REDUCE Act, legislation that I
have introduced that would require any reductions in military end
strength be accompanied by appropriate reductions in the civilian
workforce in order to maintain a ratio that more closely resembles the
historical average.

There's no question that the House budget requires a number of
sacrifices, but American families make and live with similar sacrifices
every day and they expect our government to do the same. President
Obama may not understand that, but I do and I encourage all of my
colleagues to support the House Republican budget and its path towards
a brighter economic future and a more secure America.

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