Lungren Statement on GOP "Pledge to America"

Press Release

Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Gold River-CA) released the following statement after House Republicans presented A Pledge to America, a new governing agenda for the remainder of the 111th Congress, focused on addressing the American people's top priorities. The Pledge is the culmination of a months-long engagement with the American people in which House Republicans sought their ideas and priorities for Congress. It offers solutions that can be implemented immediately to tackle the issues that are most important to the nation, including job creation, spending restraint, national security, health care, and reform of Congress itself.

"I have listened to constituents from every corner of my district and read what Americans are saying all across the U.S. - through the "America Speaking Out' program - and it is time to chart a new course for America. The Democrat leadership in Washington has refused to listen to the American people and does not feel their frustration.

"More is being done to smother small business than help it, government spending is accelerating at an unsustainable pace, our national debt threatens our national security and stifles the prosperity of future generations, and America is facing $3.8 trillion dollar tax increase Jan 1, 2011.

The Pledge can be implemented now and could not have been presented at a better time. It focuses on:

* Creating Jobs. "A Pledge to America" reflects Americans' demand for immediate action on policies that will end uncertainty for small businesses and help our economy get back to creating jobs. This new governing agenda contains a plan to create jobs, end economic uncertainty, and make America competitive -- including stopping all tax hikes, reining in red tape, and repealing ObamaCare's "1099 mandate.'

* Cutting Spending. "A Pledge to America" embodies Americans' rejection of the now-thoroughly discredited notion that we can simply tax, spend, and borrow our way to prosperity. This new governing agenda contains a plan to cut spending and reduce the size of government -- including cutting government spending to pre-"stimulus', pre-bailout levels, imposing a hard cap on future discretionary spending, and ending TARP once and for all.

* Reforming Congress. "A Pledge to America" acknowledges that we cannot get our arms around the issues of the day when we have a government that refuses to listen to the people and ignores their priorities. This new governing agenda contains a plan to reform Congress and restore trust -- including implementing "read the bill' reform, allowing for more open and fair debate, and requiring that every bill contain a citation of Constitutional authority.

* Repealing and Replacing the Job-Killing Health Care Law. "A Pledge to America" recognizes that the American people continue to squarely oppose the government takeover of health care, with its higher costs, higher taxes, job-killing mandates, and Medicare cuts to pay for a massive new entitlement. This new governing agenda contains a plan to repeal and replace the job-killing health care law with common-sense reforms focused on lowering costs and protecting American jobs.

* A Strong National Defense. "A Pledge to America" reinforces Congress' responsibility to help provide for a strong national defense and fashion a coherent strategy to confront and defeat the terrorist threat. This new governing agenda contains a plan to keep our nation secure at home and abroad -- including passing clean troop funding bills, keeping terrorists off American soil, and fully funding missile defense.

"I have been fighting and continue to fight for the constituents of my district. The Pledge is a call to action: not a call to the people, but to Congress. The American people are waiting for relief and the Democrat controlled Congress is punting. This is inexcusable. The people have waited long enough. We must act, and we must act now."

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