Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee, delivered the following remarks in support of H.R. 3746 – the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

As Prepared for Delivery:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. Included within the rule measure is H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act. I am pleased to say that the Fiscal Responsibility Act makes worthwhile reforms that will safeguard America’s fiscal solvency.
 
100 Days, Mr. Speaker. That is how long President Biden flirted with economic calamity because he was too stubborn to come to terms with the new political reality. The American people did not send a Republican majority to continue business as usual. Mr. Speaker, the typical business as usual where elected lawmakers come together in a lame-duck session and knock the bottom out of this country’s finances.

No more, Mr. Speaker.

With the passage of this legislation, Republicans are putting America back on sound fiscal footing by reducing non-discretionary funding by 40 billion dollars, reforming entitlement programs, and adding requirements that Congress passes its 12 appropriations bills on time.

While no one can say that they got everything they wanted in this piece of legislation, candidly, I don’t think the provisions related to permitting reform go far enough. Republicans and Democrats negotiated in good faith, which is reflected in the final legislative product. I commend my fellow members, Mr. McHenry and Mr. Graves, for their hard work and for bringing us this vital piece of legislation that will responsibly raise our Nation’s debt ceiling. 

I urge my fellow members to support the rule and the underlying legislation.