West Reflects on the Senate's Failure

Statement

Congressman Allen West (FL-22) released this statement today as Congress begins the August district work period:

"The United States Senate has let America down and is setting Congress on a path to failure upon its return. The Senate is leaving the nation's capital without creating a budget in 825 days and merely creating one appropriations bill. The Senate is leaving 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees out of work, putting essential airport construction projects on hold, and leaving nine job creation bills already passed by the House of Representatives gathering dust in the Senate Chamber.

"It has been a concern of mine since shortly after I was elected and initially viewed the Congressional Calendar, that the House of Representatives would not be in session enough days to address the important issues our nation is facing. While my concern still exists, what is even more clear is that the United States Senate has done virtually nothing since January.

"On April 15, 2011, the House of Representatives passed a federal budget for Fiscal Year 2012. It has now been more than 825 days and the Democrat-controlled Senate has still not produced a budget. Since January, the House of Representatives has passed seven out of 12 appropriations bills to fund the federal government. The House is presently considering the eighth bill, while the United States Senate has considered and voted on only one.

"All 12 appropriations bills are to be considered and sent to the President by September 30th each year. Upon return from the August district work period, only 24 days will be left to finish the budget for Fiscal Year 2012. Clearly, the Senate is setting up the House to consider an Omnibus Appropriations Bill with the only alternative being to shut down the federal government. Simply put, the Senate is putting Congress on a path to failure.

"In addition, the United States Senate failed to end a stalemate to provide temporary financing for the Federal Aviation Administration. The House voted on an extension on July 20, 2011. The Senate failed to act. This failure has put 4,000 FAA employees temporarily out of work, and has also put thousands of airport construction projects throughout the United States on hold.

"On the day prior to leaving for the August district work period, Senate Democrats announced they would return in September with a 'single-minded focus on jobs.' Senator Charles Schumer stated, 'While Washington has been consumed with averting a default, our nation's unemployment problem has been worsening. It's time for jobs to be moved back to the front burner.' The reason the unemployment problem in American has worsened is because the stimulus package, burdensome regulations, and economic policies of the President have been a failure.

"The House has sent nine job creating bills to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senators Dick Durbin, Charles Schumer and the Democrat Leadership, yet they have collectively decided these pieces of legislation were not even worth consideration in the first six months of Congress. "I return to South Florida today understanding there is frustration with Congress and concern about our nation's economy with high employment and anemic economic growth. I will travel to the Congressional District over the next several weeks and hear directly from the constituents about their thoughts on the issues facing our country. While I am pleased about what we have been able to accomplish these last six months, I realize our nation is facing a crisis, and failure is not an option for the American people."

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