Resolution to Cut Congress' Budget
Floor Speech
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Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 22. In fact, it is an honor to give my first speech in the House of Representatives on this issue.
When I went around in the campaign, I heard from the people of the 11th District of Illinois repeatedly about a number of things, but at the forefront, it was ``cut spending.'' We have a massive deficit. We have lived the last few years acting like we can just spend money and never worry about it; but we saw a massive change in the last few months, and it is time for us to heed that message. How better to do it than to lead by example?
As well as hearing about our needing to cut spending, I heard about humility a lot and about a majority that needs to lead with a sense of humbleness. I think this is key, to lead by example, but we need to wrestle the beast of spending. I don't have kids yet, but someday I will, and when I do, I don't want to live with the responsibility that I continue to shovel debt and debt on top of them and make them have to handle that now.
As a member of the military--and I've been doing that for 8 years--I also understand what sacrifice is, and I understand that folks have been fighting on the outside for the defense of our country. It is time for us now to fight on the inside for the defense of our country. $35 million isn't going to solve all of our budget problems, but it's a good first step. This is the first step in a probably very painful process where we have to understand and wrestle with this beast and where everybody is going to have to sacrifice, but it is the first step and a very necessary step to ensure that we are leaving our children a Union, a country, far better than the one we inherited.
So to the people of the 11th District of Illinois and to the people of America, let me say the freshman class and the Republican majority have heard your voice. We heard what you said on November 2. We are going to seriously cut spending, and we are going to start with our own budget. We are proud to do it, and we are going to step forward and lead and make you proud.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to address this issue.
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