Fiscal Responsibility
Over the years, Democrats have shown our commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility by taking actions that have reduced our national deficit while investing in the American people’s priorities. During the 117th Congress, House Democrats delivered the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which will reduce the deficit by over $300 billion while lowering health care and energy costs and taking action on climate change. In sharp contrast, Republicans jammed their 2017 Trump Tax Scam through Congress without a single hearing, gifting trillions of dollars in unpaid-for tax handouts to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations while leaving our nation with ballooning deficits. They have repeatedly held our economy hostage to benefit their irresponsible ideological agenda, whether creating artificial “fiscal cliffs,” shutting down the government, or bringing our nation to the brink of defaulting on its obligations. With other landmark legislation delivered during the 117th Congress, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act, Democrats have worked to invest in economic recovery, job creation, all while cutting the deficit in half last year. Democrats are committed to continuing our work to restore sound, long-term fiscal management so future generations can afford to invest in opportunities, secure the American Dream, and ensure workers have the tools to Make It In America.
Wanted to make sure you saw today's op-ed in The Hill by House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) on President Obama's final State of the Union Address.
“Tonight, President Obama reminded Congress and the nation that what makes America great is the spirit of service and hard work that manifests from realizing we are all bound together by a common cause. ...
As President Obama prepares to deliver his last State of the Union address, here’s a look at the progress we have made over the past seven years:
As we begin the new year and the Second Session of the 114th Congress, newly elected Speaker Paul Ryan has an opportunity to turn the page on the bitter partisanship of the past few years and show that he is willing to work across the aisle to get things done for the American people. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that “House Speaker Paul Ryan starting this month will push to turn the chamber into a platform for ambitious Republican policy ideas.” But evidence points to the contrary, with the first items on the House’s agenda for 2016 being the sixty-second vote to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act, the eleventh vote to attack women’s health, and several bills that would undermine consumer safety, workplace safety, and environmental protections. House Republican leaders know these bills will never become law, yet they continue to pander to the far right with political messaging bills instead of bringing substantive, bipartisan legislation to the Floor. It is also unfortunate that Speaker Ryan has already taken issues such as comprehensive immigration reform and an expansion of paid family and medical leave off of the table.
As we begin the second session of the 114th Congress, there are a number of critical issues the American people expect to see Congress address.
I thank [Appropriations Committee Ranking Member] Lowey and Chairman Rogers for their leadership on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, within the next few days, the House could take up a tax package that extends a number of tax breaks permanently.
We don't have an agreement on a number of things the gentleman has said. What we do have an agreement on, I presume, is that the gentleman from California wants to see is a solvent nation, a nation that pays its bills, a nation that does not create a lack of confidence in our own country and around the world.
"No one believes that it’s good policy not to make sure, as Peter Welch says, that America pays its bills."
President Obama and Congressional Democrats have a clear record of supporting a robust national defense, which is why the President proposed a strong defense budget.