Issues Facing America

Floor Speech

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Mrs. ROBY. I thank you very much for those kind remarks, and, again, what an honor and a privilege to be here on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Alabama's Second District, but also here just to embrace the very quote that you began with: All great change in America begins at the dinner table, from President Ronald Reagan.

As I sit here, and I've been listening to my colleagues, I can't help but reflect back on my time as a child around the dinner table with my parents and my siblings. I am so grateful for the parents that I have that encouraged debate, yet taught me the responsibility that I have as an American and as an individual. Certainly I credit my wonderful parents for the opportunities that I've had to lead me to this place today to have the privilege and honor of representing Alabama's Second District.

This week, this Congress is embarking on a historical path. We all understand the responsibility that we have, and each of us brings to the table a unique sense. As women, as those who pump gas and go to the grocery store and see the rising costs of milk, we bring a perspective to this Congress that I think is vitally important to demonstrate exactly where this country is now. The people that are having to make the choice between whether they're putting food on their table or gas in their car so that they can get to their job to provide for their family. So again, thank you for letting me be a part of this.

All of us that are here on the floor today, since the day we walked in, particularly this past January, we have been fighting to tighten the government's belt.

Every American has done so in the past several years, and it's time that this Federal Government did the same. We did it with the continuing resolution. We did it with the House budget resolution, and we've been doing it throughout the appropriations process, and we have done it this week.

Our children, my children, my children's children, they deserve a future free of crushing taxes so that they have the same opportunity that I mentioned that I had before. They deserve to be free from a life of indebtedness to China.

The Cut, Cap, and Balance Act ensures that we fulfill our constitutional obligation to pay our debts. We're at a place right now, you and I could never call up our credit card company and say, hey, credit card company I've maxed out my card. I don't have any cash to pay you the interest on what I already owe, so could you just increase my credit limit? Can you imagine? Can you imagine going to your husband and saying, I maxed out, but I need a little bit more so I'm just going to call the credit card company. That's exactly what's going on here. And if we don't insist, just like you and I would in our home, just like our spouses would, just like we would for our children, if we do not insist that there are significant spending reforms where we cut up that credit card and say no more--your child wouldn't change his or her behavior if you just continued to give them more; nor would you change your behavior if your credit card company allowed that kind of action. We should require the same of our Federal Government as we do in our home.

It is so urgent that we provide the American people with honest, honest solutions, and I believe that we have demonstrated that this week. I look forward to the next coming weeks as we can do all that we can, as Republican women, to help turn this tide of spending in this country so that we can save this country for the next generation. It cannot be about the next election. It must be about the next generation.

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