Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
06.09.21
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $46,498,869 million in federal funding to reimburse the city of Lake Charles for debris removal in the wake of repeated natural disasters, including Hurricane Laura.
“Lake Charles has been pounded by natural disasters,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This funding is another step to get Lake Charles back on its feet.”
Last fall, Hurricane Laura made landfall with damaging winds, heavy rain, and storm surge which deposited debris throughout Lake Charles. The grants funded the removal of over two million cubic yards of debris form Lake Charles after Hurricane Laura.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
June 09, 2021
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS), held a hearing on fiscal year 2022 funding priorities for the U.S. Department of Justice. She questioned Attorney General Merrick Garland on a variety of issues critical to New Hampshire and the nation.
Shaheen began by highlighting her concerns with the present level of funding in the Crime Victims Fund, which is administered by the Justice Department and provides support for victims of violent crimes, including survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. She asked AG Garland to clarify what steps the Department has taken to address this issue and what requests for resources the Fund received over the past year. In March, Shaheen had written a letter to the Attorney General with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) urging his immediate review of the Crime Victims Fund given a dramatic decline in deposits into the Fund.
You can watch Shaheen’s first round of questioning here.
Later, Shaheen raised recent reports that under the Trump Administration, the Justice Department seized phone and email records of journalists. She asked Attorney General Garland to commit to ensuring freedom of the press and ensure there are no future efforts to seize such records unless there is legitimate criminal concern.
Shaheen concluded by asking the Attorney General to clarify what actions the Justice Department is taking to help improve, facilitate and streamline the nation’s immigration system. She asked whether the Legal Orientation Program, which provides basic legal explanations of court proceedings to those going through immigration courts, would be continued and funded, and stressed the need for immigration reform.
You can watch Shaheen’s second round of questioning here.
Through her leadership on the CJS Appropriations subcommittee, Shaheen has long been a strong advocate on key concerns that fall under the Department of Justice’s purview, including funding programs that help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, distribution of the Crime Victims Fund to support victim services and resources to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Shaheen has also advocated for resources to support law enforcement and thorough oversight over the Bureau of Prisons, which impacts the Berlin facility in New Hampshire, and much more.
Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced that their bipartisan legislation – the Build America, Buy America Act– to apply Buy America rules to all taxpayer-funded infrastructure and public works projects, has passed the Senate as part of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act.
Currently, Buy America rules have not been fully implemented with respect to all federal programs that provide grants for the construction of infrastructure. When Chinese- or Russian- made steel and other products are used instead of American products, it steals jobs from U.S. workers.
Their legislation would implement Buy America rules across the board – ensuring that American taxpayer dollars are used to buy American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products for any federally funded infrastructure projects. Portman and Brown introduced the bill with Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Gary Peters (D-MI).
“We cannot allow foreign companies to continue to undercut our domestic industries. Without Buy America rules, we are allowing manufacturing to go elsewhere at the expense of taxpayers,”said Senator Brown.“It’s simple: American tax dollars should go toward American-made projects that support American jobs. Period.”
“I applaud my Senate colleagues for passing the bipartisan Build America, Buy America legislation as a part of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. When the government spends American taxpayer money on an infrastructure project, it’s common sense that the materials used in that project should be made in America. We have the world’s best workers making the best materials we need right here at home,”said Senator Portman, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Because Buy America rules have not been fully implemented for all federal infrastructure programs, some foreign materials can be used to construct many taxpayer-funded highways, roads, bridges, and water and energy infrastructure projects. Portman, Brown, Braun, and Peters believe these products instead should be produced in the U.S.
For example, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Buy America requirements have been applied only to iron and steel used for structures. However, the FHWA has estimated that structural steel accounts for less than 5 percent of the costs of a typical highway project. That means the vast majority of materials used to construct federally assisted highways, roads, and bridges do not have to be produced in the U.S.
The Build America, Buy America Act would fix these loopholes and ensure the Buy America statute actually results in the purchase of American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products for all federally funded infrastructure projects.
The Alliance for American Manufacturing has endorsed this bill.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
06.09.21
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young (both R-Alaska) today applauded the Department of Defense’s (DoD) announcement that it is establishing the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, an initiative that the Alaska delegation has worked to both authorize and appropriate funding for.
The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed in December 2020, included an amendment to establish a new regional DoD center – the first DoD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DoD regional center established since 2000. The center, named after the late Senator Ted Stevens, will support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders.
“In the 2021 NDAA, my team and I were able to include provisions for historic investments in the Arctic, including new icebreakers, space-based communications, critical military infrastructure, and new initiatives for remote locations,” said Senator Sullivan. “Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that another provision I was able to include as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee—the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies—will come to fruition. Alaska is the reason that the United States is an Arctic nation, which is why we are fighting for the center to be based in our state. This would be instrumental in cultivating the Arctic policy expertise that is desperately needed in the Department of Defense. In order to address the rise of great power competition in the Arctic, the Ted Stevens Center will serve as a new focal point for strategic thinking as it combines Alaska’s extensive reserve of Arctic expertise with the best and brightest minds from around the world. I want to thank Secretary Austin for his focus on this critically-important geostrategic area of the world, Senator Murkowski for initially conceiving of the idea and working to appropriate funds for the center, and Congressman Don Young for carrying it across the finish line in the House.”
“I am very pleased to see the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies get one step closer toward its establishment,” said Congressman Young.“My friend, our late Senator Ted Stevens, was not only a steadfast advocate for Alaska, but he also fully recognized the strategic importance of the Arctic to America’s national security. The establishment of the Ted Stevens Center has always been one of my highest priorities, and the Alaska Delegation has worked hard to make it a reality. America is an Arctic nation because of Alaska. As the region changes, it becomes even more important for us to secure peace and stability through American leadership. America’s national security is not a partisan issue. Naming the Arctic Center for Security Studies after a consensus builder like Senator Stevens is an incredible testament to his legacy of patriotism and multilateralism. I know that he would be proud to know that the state he loved will soon be home to a critical diplomatic hub. I want to thank Defense Secretary Austin for recognizing our role in the Arctic and helping to bring the Stevens Center to fruition.”
Cotton Statement on EPA Decision to Abandon Navigable Water Protection Rule
Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the statement below following the Biden administration’s announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency would abandon the Navigable Water Protection rule and seek additional regulations.
“The Navigable Water Protection rule secured our nation’s clean water supply without punishing homeowners, small businesses, and ag producers. The Biden EPA’s decision to abandon the rule is a political move designed to pacify radical environmentalists and to expand federal control, at the expense of Arkansans. We’ve fought this battle before and won—we can do it again.”
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
WASHINGTON—Following his travels to Eastern Europe, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), amember of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday asked U.S. Ambassador-designate to Belarus Julie Fisher about the importance of the Belarusian opposition movement and Lukashenka’s false claims about it, and how the United States can publicize Lukashenka’s corruption at a Committee hearing on Belarus.
On the importance of the Belarusian opposition movement and Lukashenka’s false claims about it, Murphy said: “Lukashenka’s claim is that the entire opposition movement is some U.S. front. [That] we’re sort of using Belarus to get at Putin as part of sort of great power competition. It is important to recognize what the Belarusian opposition is asking for and how it’s different, for instance, than what’s happening in Ukraine. Where in Ukraine, the protesters, you know, very clearly wanted an orientation with Europe and with the West. That’s very different than what’s happening in Belarus today. This is not about an alignment with countries to the west of Belarus. This is just about human rights, dignity, the ability to determine for themselves what the future of that country is.”
On how the United States can publicize Lukashenka’s corruption, Murphy said: “Navalny is really dangerous to Putin in part because he has done a very effective job at exposing the financial holdings of Putin, and Medvedev, and others. We have capacities to do that as well, along with our European partners. OFAC is a perpetually underfunded agency at Treasury that with the right resources can do a good job of exposing the way in which these dictators abroad hide their money. But the media can do that as well. We’re going to hear testimony on the next panel from Jamie Fly, who’s going to talk about how the how Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty need additional funding and additional resources to be able to do that work themselves and expose for the Belarusian people the extent to which Lukashenka and his friends have stolen from the people of that country. What do you think about the tools that we have at our disposal to just tell the story of how corrupt this regime is?”
Last week, Murphy along with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) traveled to Lithuania and Ukraine to reaffirm U.S. commitment to regional partners and strengthen democratic reforms. In Lithuania, Murphy, Shaheen and Portman met with Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius to discuss the Lukashenka regime’s increasing human rights abuses against political opposition, including the recent hijacking of a civilian airliner to unlawfully arrest and detain journalist Raman Pratasevich.
You can read Murphy’s full exchange with Fisher is below:
MURPHY: “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing. Ambassador, thank you for your work. Thanks for your assistance to Senator Shaheen, Portman, and I in getting ready for our trip. I was incredibly impressed by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her team. The duress under which they are operating is just unfathomable and glad to be exploring new ways that we can support them.
“You may have covered this in your prepared testimony, but it maybe bears repeating. Lukashenka’s claim is that the entire opposition movement is some U.S.front. [That] we’re sort of using Belarus to get at Putin as part of sort of great power competition. It is important to recognize what the Belarusian opposition is asking for and how it’s different, for instance, than what’s happening in Ukraine.
“Where in Ukraine, the protesters, you know, very clearly wanted an orientation with Europe and with the West. That’s very different than what’s happening in Belarus today. This is not about an alignment with countries to the west of Belarus. This is just about human rights, dignity, the ability to determine for themselves what the future of that country is. Isn’t that right?”
FISHER: “Sir, I think that’s exactly right. And I think, you know, what we are seeing in Belarus, if I put it in a bit of context from what I have experienced in the former Soviet Union, over my years of service. Right, this is a delayed transition. Right. Lukashenka has held this grip on power. He has run Belarus in a very Soviet style for his quarter of a century. And what we see from the opposition is a clear desire. It is different from what happened in Ukraine, it is different from what we’ve seen happen in countries in the Caucasus, because this is the people saying, ‘we want to have a voice.’
“Largely the demonstrations last summer, to a large extent, had an awful lot to do with COVID. It had a lot to do with how the authorities had failed to respond to a health crisis. There were economic impacts. But immediately, what we saw, as people pointed out shortcomings from the regime, was the government went immediately reverted back to again, its Soviet style tools.
“So what the opposition is looking for now, what that democratic opposition, which, again we can acknowledge that Lukashenka has put his opposition either behind bars or he has driven them to the borders of the country and kicked them out. So as we engage with those outside of the borders, the ones with whom we can engage, what they tell us explicitly they are after is the release of political prisoners and the conduct of a new election so that the people’s voices can be heard.
“This isn’t about the European Union. This certainly isn’t about NATO. This is about a country that would like the opportunity to find some prosperity and stability for its own citizens, and a state that serves the citizens, not the other way around.”
MURPHY: “Well said. Let me ask you one additional question and that’s on how we sort of uncover and publicize the sort of endemic corruption of the Lukashenka government. Navalny is really dangerous to Putin, in part because he has done a very effective job at exposing the financial holdings of Putin, and Medvedev, and others.
“We have capacities to do that as well along with our European partners. OFAC is a perpetually underfundedagency at Treasury that with the right resources can do a good job of exposing the way in which these dictators abroad hide their money. But the media can do that as well. We’re going to hear testimony on the next panel from Jamie Fly, who’s going to talk about how the how Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty need additional funding and additional resources to be able to do that work themselves and expose for the Belarusian people the extent to which Lukashenka and his friends have stolen from the people of that country.
“What do you think about the tools that we have at our disposal to just tell the story of how corrupt this regime is?”
FISHER: “I think that what the committee is going to hear from the next panel, I think is going to be incredibly important. RFE/RL and their work is absolutely essential to telling that public story that you reference.
“I think what is so compelling about the information that has been put out by Navalny is it reflects just how little investigative journalism exists in this part of the world and the importance of it. It is not a coincidence that the independent media has been Lukashenka’s primary target in these months since last summer in the conduct of the election, and in all of these years. It’s important to remember that in the lead up to the Ryanair diversion, one of the… There were some several significant events in the week before that, including the closure of the largest in country independent media, Tut.By. So this target is, it’s very clear. I think there is more for us to do in support of that independent media.
“I think the Global Engagement Center’s work if I could, if I could tout that for a second is absolutely essential in terms of how we counter some of the massive amounts of disinformation that are at work on the Belarus account. And, again, I know that Jamie Fly will talk much more about what it is that RFE/RL can do, and I’m quite supportive of that.”
MURPHY: “Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
June 09, 2021
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday released the following statement on his bipartisan negotiations to expand background checks:
“I’ve spent a lot of time talking with Senator Cornyn about proposals to increase background checks. I have been very open to compromise and I think Senator Cornyn was negotiating in good faith. But we haven’t been able to get to a bill that would meaningfully increase the number of gun sales that require background checks,”said Murphy. “The good news is that I’m still talking with other Republican colleagues about different proposals to expand background checks, and I’m committed to getting something done.”
Source: United States Senator for Indiana Todd Young
June 08, 2021
The FORWARD Act will improve access to the R&D tax credit and encourage American companies to invest in employee training and development of cutting-edge technologies
WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) to introduce theFORWARD Act,which would provide expanded tax incentives for American companies that invest in the research and development of new products and technologies.
“The private sector is helping America emerge from the pandemic and prepare for future emergencies,” said Senator Young. “Government should create an environment which enables our small businesses to conduct research and development activity that spurs innovation and job creation right here in the U.S.”
“There is bipartisan agreement that now is the time for a generational investment in American competitiveness and a skilled workforce that will win the next century,” said Senator Coons. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the incredible benefits of innovative technologies, such those used to rapidly develop safe and effective vaccines, but also presents an opportunity to rebuild our economy to provide more good, high-paying jobs. TheFORWARD Actis a bipartisan, commonsense bill that provides tax support to cutting-edge startups and business. This bill supports President Biden’s vision for our nation’s economic recovery and growth.”
The United States supports R&D far less than our international competitors. This places American businesses at a disadvantage, undermining the U.S. economy and leaving the country ill-prepared for crises like COVID-19. In 2015, Congress passed legislation to make the R&D tax credit permanent and expand access for more startups and small businesses to receive the credit. TheFORWARD Actexpands on these initiatives to address the needs of today’s economicand national securitysituation.
·Expands access to the research and development tax credit for new small- and medium-sized businesses.Firms with up to $20 million in gross receipts will be eligible to use the credit to reduce their payroll tax obligation during a span of 8 years—up from current thresholds of $5 million and 5 years. A newde minimisthreshold delays the start of the 8-year window until gross receipts exceed $25,000.
·Strengthens the economy by incentivizing American manufacturing.The R&D credit is increased for companies that generate the majority of their gross receipts from manufacturing their products in the United States.
·Targets specific activities that enhance economic productivity by spreading knowledge and work opportunities to the U.S. workforce.The full R&D credit is expanded to cover R&D-related worker training costs. For R&D performed in collaboration with industry consortia, academic institutions, federal laboratories, and other entities, the credit rate is increased by one quarter (to 25% and 17.5% for the Regular Research and Alternative Simplified Credits, respectively).
·Activates the R&D creditby providing outreach, education, and training for businesses with limited accounting expertise, to be provided by the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.
The bill text is availablehere. A one-pager on the bill is availablehere.
TheFORWARD Actis supported by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Third Way, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Intelligent Manufacturing Systems International, the Delaware Small Business Development Center, the Association for Manufacturing Technology, the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities, Cover & Rossiter, the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, the State Science and Technology Institute, the University City Science Center, AlliantGroup, the Small Business Investor Alliance, and Advanced Manufacturing International.
“As the United States continues the work to recover from the global pandemic and grow as a leader in advanced manufacturing worldwide, it is critical that we have right tax policies in place to allow for the continued success of our domestic manufacturing sector, including the R&D and workforce infrastructure necessary to jump start the U.S. manufacturing economy,”saidThomas Costabile, P.E., Executive Director and CEO of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. “This Act will create more opportunities for these small businesses to engage and grow by allowing small manufacturers an expanded R&D tax credit. Further, this Act will encourage the manufacturing sector to evolve and expand by making it easier for manufacturers and start-ups to invest in workforce development initiatives that are so critical to supporting world-class industrial research.”
“Science and engineering-based innovation are critical for addressing a wide array of American challenges, including climate change and U.S. competitiveness,”saidDr. Robert D. Atkinson, President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). “But the main federal incentive for private sector research – the R&D tax credit – needs both modernization and expansion. TheFORWARD Actdoes just that, and if passed would spur more American innovation, job creation and competitiveness.”
Additional quotes from endorsing organizations are availablehere.
TheFORWARD Actbuilds upon Senator Young’s leadership in the R&D space to ensure America remains competitive with China. Earlier this year, he and Senator Hassan reintroduced theAmerican Innovation and Jobs Act, which encourages domestic R&D investment by preserving the immediate expensing of R&D costs and increasing access to tax incentives for innovative small businesses and startups. In addition, Senator Young’s Senate-passedEndless Frontier Act is another effort aimed at spurring U.S. innovation to out-compete China in key emerging technology areas critical to our national security.
Source: United States Senator for South Dakota Mike Rounds
06.09.21
WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Ellsworth Air Force Base will officially be the Air Force’s first base to receive the new B-21 Raider bomber.
During a call this afternoon with Air Force Global Strike Commander General Timothy Ray, Sen. Rounds was informed that Ellsworth has been officially designated as the future home of the B-21.
“I am pleased that the U.S. Air Force has officially selected Ellsworth Air Force Base as the first home of the B-21 Raider bomber,” Rounds said. “This landmark decision makes certain that South Dakota will continue to play a critical role in our national defense. The selection of Ellsworth is a testament to the hard work of our Air Force personnel on the ground at Ellsworth and the communities of Box Elder and Rapid City that have worked hard to improve the long-term suitability of the base for this new state-of-the-art aircraft.
“As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I’ve worked actively to secure full funding for the B-21 program being developed by Northrup Grumman for the Air Force. I can tell you that this is one of the most advanced weapon systems to ever be developed. The B-21 will help deter our adversaries, especially China, thanks to its long-range, speed, stealth and payload. This weapon system will play a crucial role in the defense of our nation and have a huge economic impact on the Rapid City area for the next 50 years.”
Background:
InMarch 2019, the Air Force announced Ellsworth was the preferred location for the first home of the B-21 Raider bomber.
InJanuary 2021, Rounds’ provision to address the Air Force’s bomber shortfall, which directly supports B-21 bomber program and Ellsworth Air Force Base, became law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.
InDecember 2019, Rounds secured full funding for the B-21 bomber program with the signing of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2020.
As governor, Rounds successfully advocated for the removal of Ellsworth from the Department of Defense’s proposed closure list during a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round in 2005. Following that effort, he led a legislative effort to establish the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority (SDEDA). Now a permanent fixture, the SDEDA’s mission is to protect, strengthen and promote the base.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) in introducing the Federal Debt Emergency Control Act to rein in Washington’s out-of-control spending and provide a concrete path forward to tackle the nation’s nearly $30 trillion debt.
The Federal Debt Emergency Control Act requires the Office of Management and Budget to declare a “Federal Debt Emergency” in any fiscal year where the federal debt exceeds 100% of that year’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This emergency designation would trigger several provisions to help control and reduce the federal debt to levels below 100% of GDP, including terminating any unobligated funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, and any previous stimulus bills, and sending it back to the Treasury General Fund immediately for deficit reduction. It also requires all legislation that increases the federal deficit, as determined by the Congressional Budget Office, to carry its own offsets. If it does not, the legislation shall be considered out of order and will require at least two-thirds of all Senators to vote to increase federal debt before even being able to consider the bill. Lastly, it fast-tracks any legislation that would reduce the federal deficit by at least 5 percent over ten years.
Senator Ron Johnson said, “Since I began serving in Congress in 2011, our debt has doubled from $14 trillion to $28 trillion with no serious attempt to rein in deficit spending in sight. During that time, the debt ceiling has been increased or suspended nine times with few attempts to enact fiscal controls in exchange. The Federal Debt Emergency Control Act would be a major step in recognizing that we can’t keep mortgaging our children’s future and must take steps to reduce out of control spending.”
Senator Rick Scott said, “America is in a debt crisis. Our nation is barreling toward $30 trillion in debt – an unimaginable $233,000 in debt for every family in America. It’s a crisis caused by decades of wasteful and reckless spending by Washington politicians. Now, President Biden is continuing this way of governing by pushing for trillions in wasteful spending, raising the U.S. federal debt by 60% to $39 trillion and the debt-to-GDP ratio to 117% in 2030, the highest level ever recorded in American history. Spending beyond our means has consequences. We’re already seeing rising inflation, which disproportionately hurts the poorest families, like mine growing up.
“That’s why today, I am leading my colleagues in introducing the Federal Debt Emergency Control Act to rein in Washington’s out of control spending. This includes preventing Washington politicians from mindlessly spending by requiring that two-thirds of the Senate vote to increase the debt before approving any bill. I look forward to every fiscally responsible Republican and Democrat working with me to quickly pass the Federal Debt Emergency Control Act.”
Senator Ted Cruz said, “Congressional Democrats and the Biden administration have embarked on a massive spending spree, placing the burden of the ensuing inflation crisis on American families and small businesses. As our economy fully reopens, continuing to expand our bloated government will do nothing but hurt hard-working Americans who are trying to get back on their feet. I have long fought to rein in big government spending. Sen. Scott’s commonsense legislation would rightfully hold elected officials accountable for voting to increase the deficit during a national debt emergency. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take up and pass this bill for a return to fiscal sanity.”
Senator Marsha Blackburn said, “Joe Biden and Washington Democrats are forcing Americans to pay trillions for their radical agenda. Hardworking Tennesseans shouldn’t have to keep emptying their pockets for the left’s wishlist when they are already struggling to keep up with rising inflation rates. The Federal Debt Emergency Control Act serves as a critical piece of legislation to put an end to Democrat’s reckless spending spree.”
Senator John Barrasso said, “In Wyoming, we balance our budget every year and know how important it is to live within our means. There’s no reason Washington can’t do the same. With the end of the pandemic in reach and the economy recovering, we cannot afford to continue spending money we don’t have. The Congressional Budget Office already projects that the national debt will exceed 102% of our Gross Domestic Product by the end of 2021. The Federal Debt Emergency Control Act will put much needed restrictions in place to keep the Biden administration’s runaway spending in check.”
Senator Joni Ernst said, “Despite being almost $30 trillion in debt, President Biden and congressional Democrats are continuing to propose trillions in additional spending of taxpayer dollars. If Iowans are expected to live within their means and balance their budgets, our federal government should too. This bill takes commonsense steps to hold Washington politicians accountable and to provide a pathway forward to tackle our nation’s debt crisis.” Senator Tommy Tuberville said, “In the five months I’ve been in Congress, one thing has become crystal clear: the Biden Administration intends to spend trillions of taxpayers’ money with no regard for our national debt. It’s shocking, and we need to put a stop to this out-of-control spending. This is not monopoly money, but real tax dollars from the pockets of hardworking Americans. A strong nation is a fiscally responsible nation, and we need to remember today’s spending is tomorrow’s debt. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this commonsense legislation to get our fiscal house in order and pump the brakes on Washington’s spending spree.”
