U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, issued the following remarks regarding the fiscal state of the nation, and how the GOP is paving the way for spending accountability:
"In a matter of months, Republicans successfully reversed Washington's fiscal debate, and since taking over the reins in the House, have made steady headway in repairing the damage done under past leadership. All the while, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not passed a single budget in over three years, and, although the president released his budget request in February, it comes as no surprise his plan still reflects a heavy tax-and-spend governing agenda chockfull of failed policies of the last three years.
"Fortunately, there are some in Congress who have stepped up to the plate to fight for hard-working Americans. The House Appropriations Committee has been meticulously dissecting how tax dollars are spent, producing real solutions that address the biggest drivers of our ever-growing national debt while also preserving conservative priorities.
"In fact, since FY2010, we have enacted $95 billion in spending cuts, and $191 billion below the president's recommendations. Some hard examples of how this was accomplished include: terminating over 50 government programs, decreasing funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by $103 million (bringing staffing levels for this entity to its lowest since 1998), rescinding $25 million from the Dodd-Frank slush fund, and eliminating funding for new Internal Revenue Service agents to implement President Obama's health care law. Moreover, we've enacted three Second Amendment provisions into permanent law and every pro-life rider carried in FY06 was again ratified.
"There is still much, much more work that needs to be done in order to make our government solvent and improve the health of the U.S. economy. House Republicans are producing meaningful reform, and hopefully one day, the Senate and the White House will back a financial blueprint that is within our means."