Burgess Votes on Continuing Resolution

“We are in a financial crisis, and over $14 trillion in debt. American families are cutting their budget and this week Congress had to do the same.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congress voted on the Continuing Resolution (CR) that will fund federal government agencies through the end of September. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) voted yes on the legislation.

“We were sent to Congress to make hard decisions,” said Dr. Burgess. “Cutting funding is tough to do. No one wants to take money away from programs that serve the public. We are in a financial crisis, and over $14 trillion in debt. American families are cutting their budget and this week Congress had to do the same.”

The United States is in a financial crisis and the unemployment rate has been at nine percent or higher for twenty-one months straight. Federal programs have received funding increases over the past several years that have outpaced inflation.

“The problem that we are facing is that we need to stop spending money we don’t have,” Dr. Burgess continued. “The bottom line is that in order to revive our economy we must cut job-destroying government spending to help the economy to recover and to allow employers to create jobs.”

In total, the CR will save over $100 billion compared to President Obama’s 2011 fiscal year request. The CR includes no earmark funding and eliminates all previous earmarks from fiscal year 2010. Also included is a provision that eliminates all unobligated funding that was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The CR passed in the House by a vote of 235 to 189 and will now move to the Senate.

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