On February 19, Congress passed historic legislation to cut over $100 billion from government spending in the last seven months of the current fiscal year. The debate on the spending bill lasted for five days and included hundreds of amendments and I voted in favor of this legislation to further support crucial efforts to rein in the out-of-control spending in Washington, DC. For some, cuts of this magnitude can be hard to swallow as they will directly impact many Americans, but we must face the reality of what will happen if we do not make these hard decisions.
The debate on how to cut and how much to cut stood in stark contrast to two years ago, when on February 17, 2009, the $787 billion stimulus bill was signed into law. The failure of skyrocketing government spending to create jobs is evident. After a record 21 months of unemployment at 9 percent or higher, and 2.5 million jobs lost in that same time span, it’s time to chart a new course. Back in January, I joined many of my colleagues to cut Congressional operating budgets, to set the tone for more fiscal responsibility. This next step in fiscal sanity illustrates that cutting spending is not simply something we talk about; it’s something we must do. We must get our economy moving again by reining in spending, reducing burdensome regulations and ensuring you keep as much of your hard-earned money in your pockets as possible.
Later this week, I joined with Representatives Scott Rigell and Bobby Scott in the Ceremonial First Cut of Steel for the newest aircraft carrier being built right in Newport News. It was an exciting event, and amazing to think that this ship is going to serve the United States until 2070. This was a neat experience following my visits to the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77) as it was christened, commissioned, and earlier this month I had a chance to see her and her crew in action at sea, preparing for her maiden deployment. Our military men and women, and the workers at the Newport News shipyard all play an important role in keeping our nation safe from harm on the seas across the world.
If you have questions about legislative issues or the federal government, please call (202-225-4261) or email me on my website, www.wittman.house.gov. Our office would be honored to help you navigate an issue or simply hear your thoughts on a particular bill. I hope to hear from you soon.
