OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Self-Inflicted Crises of the Biden Administration

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 17, 2021
Location: Washington, DC

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BENTZ. Madam Speaker, American families and businesses across our country are facing a crisis, a crisis of inflation, the likes of which we have not seen for more than 30 years. Last month, the Consumer Price Index hit a 30-year high.

What does this mean for everyday Americans? Gas prices are up 50 percent from last year. Food prices are rising to the highest level in 12 years. The price of eggs is up 42 percent. The price of milk is up 17 percent. The price of a new car is up $5,000. Home prices are going through the roof.

Last week, I met with farmers and ranchers in central Oregon who are paying far more for fertilizer, feed, fuel, herbicides, and all crop inputs. This is on top of the incredible difficulties caused by historic drought, supply chain disruptions, and a shocking shortage of labor.

Given all this, what are President Biden and Speaker Pelosi doing to address the biggest inflationary spike in decades? Well, they have no plan except to spend even more trillions of our tax dollars on more and probably irreversible welfare programs.

The $2 trillion spending bill would raise taxes, increase our national debt, and drive inflation even higher. Sadly, American families will pay for this bill one way or another--but most immediately, right now, through inflated prices on everything from diesel fuel to the Thanksgiving turkey.

The $2 trillion Build Back Better bill is on top of the $1.9 trillion spent in March and the $1.2 trillion spent a few weeks ago. Even former officials from the Obama administration have warned that these unprecedented levels of spending will result in higher inflation. American farmers are now warning that this spending bill could result in the demise of many family farms and ranches.

Spending trillions upon trillions of dollars will cause more crippling inflation for American families and businesses. This radical reconciliation bill would not help us build back better. Instead, it will damage my State and our Nation for generations to come.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward