July 24, 2009: Congressman Wittman Offers Amendment Cutting Spending

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Rob Wittman today will introduce an amendment reducing spending in the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill by nearly $1 billion dollars -- one half of one percent of total spending in the bill.

Today's Labor-HHS-Education bill is the largest of the 12 annual appropriations bills and represents an increase of over 12% from funding levels in FY08 under which the departments operated less than one year ago.

"Spending in this Congress is reaching astronomical proportions.  Nearly every appropriations bill we've brought to the floor has contained double digit spending increases.  My amendment would save the taxpayers just under $1 billion and would represent a reduction of just one half of one percent," said Wittman.

"I fully expect that even this small amount of fiscal restraint will be met with staunch opposition, but I believe our country cannot afford to let such unnecessary massive spending increases go unchallenged," said Wittman.

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He was elected to his first full term in November 2008 and serves on the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services Committee, where he is the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.