Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. 20240706 : vimarsana.com

Dont get everything that you want. We have some common sense, we have less spending in here, the i. R. S. Issues. But the issue that i am drawn to and that has great impact, not just for me on my committee work, but also in my state, is the permitting reform and the m. V. P. Pipeline. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2023] were going to leave this here. Members of the house are returning to debate legislation to increase the nations debt limit until january, 2025. This is a part of the deal reached by President Biden and House Speaker mccarthy. After debate, the house is expected to hold a final vote to advance the bill, getting it closer to the president s desk prior to the june 5 deadline. Now to the house floor. Youre watching live coverage on cspan. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. For what purpose does the gentleman from missouri, mr. Smith, seek recognition . Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 456, i call up the bill h. R. 3746, the fiscal responsibility act of 2023, and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 3746, a bill to provide for responsible increase to the debt ceiling. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 456 and the moment the amendment printed in house report 11821 is adopt and the bill is considered read. The bill as amended shall be debated for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on ways and means or their respective designees. The gentleman from missouri, mrn from massachusetts, mr. Neal, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from missouri, mr. Smith. Mr. Smith i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Smith thank you, mr. Speaker. This debate was a Long Time Coming. Not because its complicated but because democrats couldnt accept the solution. We are here at the 11th hour, finally dealing with the debt limit on a bipartisan basis, because President Biden apparently needed 100 days to pick up the phone, to talk to republicans. During those 100 days, the case for cutting spending as part of a debt ceiling increase has only grown stronger. We have seen the worst inflation crisis in a generation, the direct result of reckless spending. Continued to rob the pocketbooks of working families. We have seen Interest Rates continue to rise, driving up the cost of purchasing a car, a home, or Small Business loan. Interest payments on our National Debt is 110 billion higher over the first seven months of this fiscal year than they were over the same time last fiscal year. In other words, runaway spending is adding to our debt crisis on the front end and the back end. Something else occurred during those 100 days. House republicans took action. While the white house was saying they would only accept a blank check debt ceiling increase, an idea that did not and does not have the votes even in a senate controlled by the president s own party, House Republicans passed a responsible plan to address the debt ceiling while cutting spending and supporting american workers. We acted on behalf of working families that are tired of paying more to put gas in their cars, clothes on their backs, and food on their tables. We acted on behalf of the Small Business owners who are desperate to remove the help wanted signs in their store front win dose. And we acted on behalf of the families trapped on government assistance to help provide them with a path to a more prosperous future. One has to wonder, what was President Biden waiting for . A massive slow down in the economy . Well, we got that too. In the First Quarter of this year, Economic Growth slowed significantly to just over 1 . But these data points do not tell the full story. To get that, you have to go into the communities across this country and listen to those on the frontlines of the economy. At the ways and Means Committee we have done just that. From West Virginia to oklahoma, georgia to new york, we have listened to american workers, family, farmers, and Small Business owners, who have shared their concerns and their solutions, and at the heart of so much of what we have heard is the simple message. Stop spending money. We do not stop spending money we do not have on policies that do not work. According to a recent survey, 60 of the American People say that an increase in the nations debt limit ought to be accompanied by reduction in the nations spending. The fiscal responsibility act is responding to that. It does much of what republicans said we would do. Put a check on washington spending. Claw back the pandemic era funding that everyone should agree is no longer need. Take a bite out of the i. R. S. s recent 80 billion pay raise. Severely dampen the regulatory administrative state, and lift more americans out of poverty through commonsense work requirements for those who can work. Does this bill do everything folks might want . No. But im reminded of a quote by thomas jefferson, where he said in part, the ground of liberty is to be gained by inches. That we must be content to secure what we can get from time to time and eternally press forward for what is yet to get. This bill keeps alive the precedent that was set decades ago and has been upheld by republicans and democrats alike. Even President Biden when he was a senator and when he was Vice President , and that is when it comes to addressing the nations debt limit, congress and the white house need to come to the table to also help address the nations debt crisis. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Neal is recognized. Mr. Neal thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i yield myself as much time as i might consume. Let me point out as the chairman noted, the chairman said that he didnt have the whole story so we intend to spend the next hour filling in the rest of the story. We are here tonight because of a reckless position that was adopted by the majority that was prepared to take this nation to the precipice of default, and thank goodness for joe bidens legislative skill, we will not go over the edge. We will preserve the full faith and credit of the United States. Just think of what was being proposed here. Risk of the dollar as international currency. Do people have any idea what the treasurys play in terms of International Transactions . The american dollar drives the worlds economy and they were prepared to take us over the edge. With a reckless spending plan that they had. Thanks to leader jeffries and the measured tone he took, we find ourselves tonight with an agreement that we might not love because its not about perfection. And i stopped telling people that i was perfect 46 years ago when i ran for the springfield city council. After one legislative session i never professed being perfect again. Theres give and take in negotiation. It mean press shiesly that. You give, and you take. Thats what we are act no, maaming here this evening. That old sage of political thought got it right. Mick jagger. You get what you need. So democrats can proudly say tonight with the help of joe biden that we protected Social Security, we protected medicare, we protected medicaid and we protected Veterans Benefits. All of which we have profoundly embraced over these years. How did we get here . This is about the cares act that saved the American Economy. 2 million jobs gone, now 22 million jobs returned and 9. 5 million jobs going unanswered. This was a manufactured crisis that brings us to this evening. The president s experienced leadership in the face of a a divided government in this body is one half of one third of the federal government. We still have a ways to go. But lets talk about why the bill ran up. So the cares act. Republicans voted for more defense spending. Republicans, some of whom voted for the chips act. Some of whom voted for the infrastructure bill. And let me point out something, i hope everybody is paying attention to this. In december of 2017, republicans borrowed . 3 trillion borrowed 2. 3 trillion to provide a tax cut to the wealthiest among us. You know what the irony of that is . Even the wealthy wouldnt say they were asking for that tax cut. Thats how we got here. Their default on america act in an effort to balance the budget on hardworking americans backs tonight will be compromised. They targeted Food Security and health care while ignoring tax loopholes. Do you think around here we might someday close one tax loophole . The tax bill we put out was well received everywhere and pro growth in nature. Let me point out Something Else by historic record this evening. Republicans are are always in favor, mr. Speaker, of balancing the budget. When this is a democratic president. When theres a democratic president. Thats the retail of it. Lets not forget who put us in this situation. In the last 25 years, republicans have voted for 10 trillion worth of tax cuts. To the top 1 . 201, 1. 3 trillion. Then their tax plan in 2017, 2. 3 trillion of borrowed money. They wanted to take the American Economy hostage and joe biden and leader jeffries and the democratic kaw thus pushed back to make sure that the position that we have tonight which we overwhelmingly intend to support is reasonable policy achieved because of the hard nosed negotiating of President Biden and leader jeffries. With that, i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith thank you, mr. Speaker. Im pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman who spent hours and days and weeks in the negotiation process to help get to us where we are today. The gentleman from north carolina, mr. Mchenry. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mchenry i thank chairman smith for yielding me time. For the first time in debt limit negotiations, the u. S. Government will spend less money next year than it did this year. This rate this rates as one of the largest deficit reduction bills in American History. And it will fundamentally change the spending trajectory here in washington, with more work to do, more work ahead. The bill contains spending cuts that take a step in the right direction toward restoring fiscal sanity in washington. This agreement will return Discretionary Spending to 2022 levels. Additionally we set top line spending at 1 annual growth over the next six years. We also cut spending through the largest funding rescissions in American History, crawling clawing back billions of dollars in unspent covid money. We institute the first ever statutory administrative paygo to hold President Biden accountable for his administrative action. If this bill had been in place over the last two years it would have checked the Regulatory Overreach thats cost the economy at least 1. 5 trillion during bidens presidency. This agreement will also change the way washington operates by compelling a workable appropriations process. Simply put, this legislation ends democrats spending spree and fights inflation. This deal will also help grow our economy and lift americans out of poverty by instituting the strongest work requirements in a generation on some of our social safety net programs. These reforms will combat the labor shortages crippling Small Businesses by encouraging individuals to contribute to our society and economy while preserving these programs for those that need them most. Another progrowth solution in this bill is the transformational reforms to the permitting process and Environmental Review process. Cutting this red tape will boost Domestic Energy production, lower costs for struggling a path toward energy independence. Furthermore, it will be faster, cheaper and easier to build things in america, large and small. Whether thats infrastructure, roads, bridges, new homes, new factories, so be it. This legislation, though is a product of divided government. Republicans only control the house of representatives. Not the senate, not the white house. And throughout this process, which was long, laborious and tough, its been speaker mccarthys leadership and House Republicans leading. We passed a plan, and it was that plan the speakers leadership that enabled these negotiations and this agreement. This is the most conservative spending package during my time in congress and im proud to support it. I encourage my colleagues to vote yes. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri reserves . Mr. Smith reserve. Mr. Neal its and hon no to introduce the democratic leader for the leaders oneminute, mr. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Jeffries i thank the gentleman for yielding, i thank mr. Neal for his tremendous, steadfast leadership. In this moment of crisis that was manufactured by extreme maga republicans on the other side of the aisle. I thank the distinguished members of the ways and Means Committee. I thank House Democrats. For your steady hand, for your unity of purpose. For your efforts to make sure we push back the extreme maga republican efforts to jam right wing cuts down the throats of the American People that would have undermined the health, safety and the economic well being of Everyday Americans. From the very golf swing House Democrats were clear very beginning, House Democrats were clear that we would not allow extreme maga republicans to default on our debt, crash the economy, or trigger a jobkilling recession. Under the leadership of President Joe Biden, democrats kept our promise. And we will continue to do what is necessary to put people over politics. The question that remains right now is what will the House Republican majority do . It appears that you may have lost control of the floor of the house of representatives. Earlier today 29 House Republicans voted to default on our nations debt and against an agreement that you negotiated. Its an extraordinary act that indicates just the nature of the extremism that is out of control on the other side of the aisle. Extreme maga republicans attempted to take control of the house floor. Democrats took it back for the American People. And we will continue to do what is necessary under the leadership of President Joe Biden. To build an economy that works for Everyday Americans. And push back against the extremism on the other side of the aisle. Under the Trump Administration democrats helped the former president avoid a default, raise the debt ceiling three times, without gamesmanship, partisanship or brinksmanship. Because democrats put people over politics. Even though we strongly disagreed with the reckless policies. As chairman neal eloquently outlined, 2017, you passed the g. O. P. Tax scam where 83 of the benefits went to the wealthiest 1 here in america. And cost our nation caused our nation to go 2 trillion in debt. To subsidize the lifestyles of the wealthy, the welloff and the wellconnected. Did nothing to lift up the economy for Everyday Americans. And thats been the case with your socalled tax cuts under Ronald Reagan, and that was the case under george w. Bush. Failed policy. Tritrickledown economics. That has come to mean only one thing for Everyday Americans, you may get a trickle, but youre guaranteed to stay down. The policies have failed. And yet despite that failure, despite the fact that you went 2 trillion into debt to pass your g. O. P. Tax scam, House Democrats were there to make sure that america did not default. We were there then, and we are there today. To put people over politics. And so im thankful for my colleagues, for their work, for their commitment, for their patriotism, for their dedication, for their willingness to find the Common Ground necessary under the leadership of President Joe Biden, who did an extraordinary job under very difficult circumstances. To protect values of importance to the American People. Not with standing your threats not withstanding your threats to default on our debt. Because President Biden understood, despite the hostage taking situation that you will necessarily thrust the country into, that we had an obligation, a responsibility to avoid a catastrophic default. Thats exactly what President Biden and democrats have been able to do. We also made clear that america would not find ourselves back in this hostagetaking situation. You passed the default on america act about a month ago that had extreme rightwing cuts the speaker pro tempore member, including leadership, are reminded to direct their remarks to the chair. Mr. Jeffries mr. Speaker, i did not mention any Single Member by name. Or any single individual on the other side of the aisle. The speaker pro tempore members are he are minded mr. Jeffries mr. Speaker, mr. Speaker. As ive indicated on this floor, House Democrats will continue to put people over politics and push back against the extremism on the other side of the aisle. And im thankful for the leadership of President Joe Biden. In avoiding a catastrophic default. Im thankful for the leadership of President Joe Biden in finding our way to an agreement that will avoid a hostagetaking situation for the balance of the 118th congress. And im thankful for the leadership of President Joe Biden and House Democrats who protected Social Security, protected medicare, protected medicaid, protected Veterans Benefits, protected education, protected Public Safety and protected the American People from the draconian 22 acrosstheboard cuts that House Republicans were trying to visit on Everyday Americans. And as a result of that effort, that leadership of President Joe Biden, were going to be able to get through this hostagetaking situation and ensure that we can continue to build an economy that works for Everyday Americans. I thank House Democrats for their leadership, i thank House Democrats for their work. And we will continue to show up and stand up and speak up without fear for Everyday Americans and to ensure that we can continue americas long, necessary and majestic march toward a more perfect union. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman from massachusetts reserve . Mr. Neal we continue to reserve, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield three minutes to a gentleman who has worked for days and weeks to get us to where were at today, the gentleman from louisiana, mr. Graves. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Graves thank you mr. Speaker. Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding. I want to explain why were in the situation were in today. Weve watched over the last year as my friends across the aisle have pushed through legislation called the iija, the i. R. A. , the chips act, all these acronyms. And what it means to you, what it means to the American People, mr. Speaker, is it means that 10 trillion in extra funds have been spent. so trillion. , 10 trillion. Let me tell you what that means. Today, a child born in america is going to inherit about 4. 5 million in debt at their birth. 4. 5 million. The amount of money theyre going to pay over their lifetime, according to the committee for a responsible federal budget. Right now we have hit our credit card limit as a nation. We dont have the ability to pay the monthly payment. And so were in a quandary. Weve got to figure out how were going to raise that credit card limit. And just like you would do with your own family, you would have a conversation, mr. Speaker, with your child and you would say, hey, how did you get yourself in this situation . We have to fix it. Look, the situation were in right now, we have four options in front of us. There are four. Number one, we can default on the debt. You cannot pay your credit card bill, which means late payment penalties, Interest Rates going up and you cause havoc on the american family. Second option is, you can say, hey, were going to use this 14th amendment thing that doesnt really exist and the president can just do it on his own. Third option is you can get all the moderates, you can get them together, they can do a relatively clean debt ceiling and just keep that get going up and keep that debt going up and up today. To 52 trillion over the next 20 years or so. 17. 5 cents of every tax dollar paid over the next 10 years is going to go toward interest on the debt. 17. 5 cents. The third option we have is, again, a clean debt ceiling. Just running it up. The fourth option we have, the one thats before us today, the fiscal responsibility act. It is absolutely historic, for the first time ever, as a result of the strategic nature of this speaker, were in a situation where we have legislation before us that will result in the greatest saves in American History savings in American History. That will result in the greatest rescission or taking back of funds in our nations history. We have legislation before us today that will strengthen and instill work requirements for welfare. We have legislation before us today that will rescind funds for additional i. R. S. Agents because i have never had a constituent say, gosh, i wish i could have more audits. We have legislation before us today that for the first time in 40 years streamlines the environmental process. Mr. Speaker, here it is. Historic efforts to raise the deficit, 6. 35 trillion is how much 6. 5 trillion is how much this resulted in. This one, 2 trillion in saves. This is the option. Theres not an imaginary fifth option, mr. Speaker. It doesnt exist. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Graves support this legislation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri reserve . Smith reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from mr. Smith reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Neal thank you, mr. Speaker. The previous gentleman left out infrastructure spending, the cares act, defense spending, chips spending and the veterans act, all of which had republican support in terms of expenditure. Bill clinton balanced the budget four straight times during his presidency and the money was given away with big tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. With that, let me recognize the gentleman from texas, mr. Doggett, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Doggett protecting our countrys full faith and credit requires accepting some unacceptable republican demands. As one cartoonist aptly described them, republicans suffer from a form of deficitattention disorder. You see, when democrats are in charge, they are absolutely on else ised with deficits absolutely obsessed with deficits. But give them a little power and their attention, poof, it just magic livannishes. As they magic livannishes. As magically vanishes. Like their multitrilliondollar trump tax giveaway, theyre already planning in coming days to soon borrow more to reward those at the top. Their boundless affection for tax cheats and tax expenditures may increase the debt by even more than the cuts that they make today in education, health care and environmental protection, which are so wrong. As climate deniers, these republicans sought to repeal our climate law, but were held to one pipeline and a weakening of Environmental Review laws. A troubling setback that we can overcome. We should be leaping forward instead of moving slowly. Ransom paid, america protected. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Neal continue to reserve, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to the gentleman from north carolina, dr. Murphy. Mr. Murphy thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the fiscal responsibility act. Over 100 days ago President Biden said he would not negotiate. Acting on behalf of this country, republicans forced him to negotiate. The bill alters our fiscal trajectory and helps remedy the federal governments insatiable spending problem. This landmark legislation lowers nondefense Discretionary Spending and forces congress to employ a functioning appropriations process. More importantly, the measure doesnt result in new taxes, doesnt touch Social Security, medicare or Veterans Benefits. Is the bill perfect . Absolutely not. Is it a step in the right direction . Absolutely. C. B. O. Scores a decrease in spending of 1. 9 trillion. Lets not forget, rome was not built in a day. Its now up to republicans to make the necessary cuts to bring in our terrible spending and our terrible debt of 3dz 1 trillion 31 trillion. I urge my colleagues to support this landmark legislation. Thank you, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserve . Mr. Smith reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from california, congressman thompson, who spent six hours in front of the rules committee. Mr. Thompson i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the American People cant afford a default. Default on our debt would be catastrophic. An Economic Disaster with consequences for every one of our constituents. Congress cant let that happen. This bills not perfect, but thanks to President Bidens leadership, the bill before us achieves two key points. One, it prevents default, averting an Economic Disaster. And two, it preserves not only key programs like Social Security, medicare and medicaid, but also maintains virtually all House Democrats achievements from the last two years. Including the climate provisions of the inflaition reduction Inflation Reduction Act which i was proud to altogetherrer with my colleagues in the ways and means author with my colleagues in the ways and Means Committee. Despite where republicans started, the president has negotiated legislation that protects medicaid and the Inflation Reduction Act, the chips act, the pact act, which provides for Veterans Health care. Now, i share some of my colleagues concerns with the bill. Im particularly opposed to the republicans demand to cut Mental Health care. After climate change, Mental Health is the single biggest crisis in our country. There is no reason to cut critical funding for Mental Health. And their cuts to the and their cuts to the i. R. S. Will not decrease the deficit, it will increase the deficit. A fully funded i. R. S. Is in everyones best interest. Overall, this legislation is a compromise. Which is what the American People expect and deserve from a divided government. And most important, it averts the catastrophe of a default. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Neal we continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to the gentleman from eats, mr. Moore. Mr. Moore thank you, mr. Speaker. When i ran for congress, i ran on the promise that i would use my position to reverse washingtons debt culture. In my first term i was in the Minority Party and after two years voting against deems spending proposals, i finally get the opportunity to vote yes on a comprehensive, thoughtful piece of legislation that will serve as the biggest spending cut in American History. Does this bill achieve everything i want in of course not. Thats the reality but its a significant step forward reversing our ballooning National Debt. The fiscal response act allows us to cut spending by 2. 1 trillion over the next decade. In for the first time in 40 years well be able to address our permitting process to be able to address our Energy Sector and transportation projects from crippling regulations. This act represents the beginning of what is to come as republicans govern in a responsible, productive manner. We fought hard to get this agreement and blew through democrats red lines over and over again. This isnt over. We can responsibly govern and success today will bring more success in the future. I look forward to casting my vote yes. I yield back. Mr. Smith reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal its an honor for know introduce for one minute the gentleman from connecticut, my neighbor, mr. Larson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Larson thank you, mr. Speaker. Three times, President Biden has had to deal with the republican manufacture dead fault crisis around raising the debt ceiling. Since 1960, congress has dealt with the debt ceiling 78 times. During the Trump Administration alone it raised the debt ceiling three times without holding the American Economy and its people hostage. President biden is to be commended for being the adult in the room and providing the leadership to prevent a catastrophic default that hurts the u. S. Standing and the Global Economy and americans here at home. That does not excuse the behavior of the republican majority in the house who seek to normalize hostage taking in an effort to hurt programs that serve our people the most. Thank you, President Biden, for protecting Social Security, medicare, and Veterans Benefits. The trust the American People place in you has been validated again. Mr. Neal continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Mr. Myth thank you, mr. Speake mr. Smith thank you, mr. Speaker. The debt ceiling is one of the best pathways to address debt and deficits. In addition to immediate future cuts and future spending cap, this prevents the inch r. S. From auditing families and Small Businesses and helps get americans back to work my bill with representative steele to rescind i. R. S. Funding was partially put into this bill and even though we passed the entire bill by a majority in january, parts of it are in this bill. House republicans continue to work to protect every family and Small Business from i. R. S. Overreach. This bill also modernizes tanf work requirements and ends the scheme of states sending small dollar checks to people who are already working to artificially raise their tanf work rates. These changes will focus tanf dollars on those who need it the most and will push states to do more to connect workcapable adults with the 9. 6 million job openings we have across our economy right now we have more to do to get our work done and our fiscal house in order. We need to ensure our economy always rewards hard work and this bill is a great start. I yield back. Mr. Smith reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Neal its an honor to yield one minute to one of the most accomplished speakers of the house in the history of america, the gentlelady from california, ms. Pelosi. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Pelosi thank you, mr. Speaker, i thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership and mr. Boyd, our chair of the Budget Committee as we i associate myself with the great remarks of our distinguished leader, Hakeem Jeffries who spoke earlier and captured so much of what is so important here today. Mr. Speaker, our constitution makes perfectly clear the validity of the public debt of the United States shall not be questioned. And the bipartisan budget agreement we honor our sworn oath as lawmakers to uphold this constitutional duty. While i find this legislation objectionable, it will avert an unprecedented default which would bring devastation to americas families. Millions of jobs eliminated, trillions in savings erased, higher cost on loans, mortgage, car payment, credit card bills and more. And let us commend President Biden for his responsible leadership to prevent this unconscionable outcome while protecting Social Security, medicare, medicaid, protecting health care for our veteransas our commander in chief, climate infrastructure, our economy, i urge our colleagues to support the full faith and kret of the United States, it shall not be questioned. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith thank you, mr. Speaker. Im pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman who has worked so numerous hours, days, in fact hes been working since january, to get where were at today. And were pleased to have the gentleman from california, speaker mccarthy. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mccarthy mr. Speaker, let me first say, how grateful i am to congressman graves and mr. Mchenry. They have given their time and talents to the efforts for more than a month. Our entire conference and country owes them a debt of gratitude. And to my conference, thank you. You worked hard. When i went to see the president on february 1, sat in the oval office right in the chair across, i said mr. President , debt limit is coming. At that time, janet yellen said it would be into maybe august, july. Said we should work together. I said theres only two things, mr. President. Never raise taxes and we have to spend less than we spent this year. He said we would meet but for 97 days we would never meet. It wasnt until this house took action to pass. I sit back and i think for one moment, what if that bill didnt pass because nothing passed in the senate if that bill had not passed, the only other option sitting over here in a discharge position. Just needs a few more signatures and it would be just raise the debt. Just raise the debt. But tonight is going to be different. Tonight were going to do something we havent done before. Tonight were going to give america hope. Tonight, we are going to vote for the largest savings in American History. Over 2. 1 trillion. Thats what well vote on. Mr. Speaker, every great nation that has overextended itself has collapsed. Mindful of this truth, George Washington said in his farewell address that a healthy public credit is a source of strength and security for a nation. By that same token, an unhealthy debt burden is a source of weakness and insecurity. President washingtons words ring true today. Were seeing the negative effects of runaway spending in real time. Record inflation. Rising Interest Rates. Broken supply chains. And economic uncertainty. Runaway spending is also making america more dependent on foreign debt holders. The total debt we owe to other countries is 7. 4 trillion. Countries like china are buying more of our farmland, more of our businesses and more of our debt. This is unsustainable. But whats even worse, it is dangerous. But runaway spending is more than an economic and security problem. My belief, mr. Speaker, it is a moral problem. Mr. Speaker, this is haley. Haley was born at 9 5 a. M. On april 11 of this year. She weighed six pounds, seven ounces. Her blue eye she got that from her dad. That button nose, she got that from her mom. And the 95,000 bill . She got that from washington. Not a very good gift for a newborn. Thats haleys portion of the National Debt. And sadly, haley is not alone. Every child who is born today owes 95,000 in debt. Mr. Speaker, thats 10,000 more in debt for every child since this president took office. It reminds me of what Ronald Reagan once said. When a business or an individual spends more than it makes, it goes bankrupt. When government does it, it sends you the bill. Mr. Speaker, to continue washingtons spending addiction is both irresponsible and just wrong. So lets stop. Ill be honest. Tonights bill doesnt stop it. But for the first time, we begin to turn the ship. This shouldnt be our last. It shouldnt even be a debate. We should challenge each other. How could we put ourselves on a fiscal path even better . For months, President Biden and senator schumer were adamant that they would not negotiate spending cuts. Mr. Speaker, i remember watching senator schumer on George Stephanopoulos one sunday. He said, just watch. Were going to break them. The republicans cant get together. They cant pass a bill. And its going to be a clean debt ceiling. You just watch. The only person that didnt pass the bill was the person who made that quote. They demanded a clean debt limit, which really means they spend more and you just pay more in taxes. House republicans said no. Over the past four months we fought hard to change how washington works. We stopped the democrats from writing a blank check for more spending after the largest spending binge in American History. That brought us some of the worst inflation our nation has ever known. We used the power we had to force the president to negotiate. You would watch me day after day requesting to negotiate with the president. We produced a bill that in divided government takes a step toward smaller government, less regulation, more Economic Growth and more takehome pay. Unlike previous speakers, you dont have to pass the bill to find out whats in it. You had 72 hours to read it. Its only 99 pages. 15 of those pages were just rescissions. Just money that we had spent that sat there. Heres the bottom line, mr. Speaker. The fiscal responsibility act is the biggest spending cut in American History. I for one, mr. Speaker, dont want to be on the wrong side of history. Yeah, i could say, im going to vote no, because theres something not in the bill. If i took that philosophy, i would never vote yes. I simply read the bills in front of me and decide is this good for the country. I would say that answer is easily yes. Taxpayers will save an additional 2. 1 trillion and for the first time in more than a decade, congress will spend less next year than this year. Fiscal responsibility act is the only bill tay reduces overall spending and reduces the deficit unlike any other debt limit in recent history. We are finally bending the curve on Discretionary Spending because of this bill. And we are doing it while at the same time raising our National Defense and veterans fully funded and Social Security and medicare preserved and without raising a penny in new taxes. That is a major victory. And mr. Speaker, it is only part of the story. Tens of billions of dollars in unspent covid funds will be claude back because of this bills spending rescissions, the largest in the American History. If you add up all the rescissions in American History and add them together, this is larger than that. I think its only common sense that if the pandemic is over, but the billions of dollars have not been spent, why would you spend them now that the pandemic is over . Why not provide them back to the hard working taxpayer that has to pay. And mr. Speaker, listening to some of the programs we are slashing, 400 million from the c. D. C. s Global Health fund. Dont get worried, because thats not going to help you. Thats your hardworking taxpayer money going to countries like china. It will help china buy our bonds and will pay for their health care. I would rather focus on america. What about workcapable adults without dependents . They are going to get a job, learn new skills and earn a pay them check because of this bills new welfare reforms. These reforms are going to change peoples lives. Someone will have a better job tomorrow. Families will be more stronger and selfsufficient. People will be lifted out of poverty. Dont believe anyone who says our plan hurts americas social safety net. We are such a generous nation and when people fall on tough times, we help them. That will not change. But this is an important assistance programs are supposed to be temporary, not permanent. A hand up, not a handout, a bridge to independence, not a barrier. If you also vote for this bill tonight, new roads, new bridges and highways and pipelines are going to be built sooner and faster because of this bills permitting reform. Mr. Speaker, i know that is a bipartisan deal. We talk about it all the time. We see it in our homes. We get frustrated that you will vote for a transportation bill, youll serve 10 years in the congress and once you leave, the person who followed you six years later will be at the groundbreaking because we spent all that time studying. I think america wants to compete and cut the red tape. They just want a fair process. This is going to save families money and make america less dependent on china. Changing america for the better for decades to come. Timely, taxpayers will be protected from harassment and costly new burdens. We rejected every single one of President Bidens demands for new tax hikes, new government mandates. And believe me, when the person sitting in the room with the president , he asked every single time. Instead, this bill eliminates the funding that would have been spent to hire bidens army of new i. R. S. Agents. Overall, we cut 20 billion from bidens i. R. S. Slush fund. To date, they havent been able to hire new 87,000 new i. R. S. Agents. And i will come back year after year to keep it that way. Because the government should work for you and not after you. Passing the fiscal responsibility act is a crucial first step for putting america back on track. It does what is responsible for our children and what is possible i believe in divided government. It may not include everything we need to do, but it is absolutely what we need to do right now. House republicans will build on structural reforms. And as we do, the American People can be confident in this, im never giving up. I heard the detractors. Im an optimist. You have to be. I sat there 15 rounds. Im an optimist. I waited 97 days and listened to the president tell me he will never meet with me. But i woke up every morning thinking this might be the day. Im an optimist that i watched division in this house, but tonight, we might come together to do something very big for this nation. Dont mistake that its the solution, its the beginning. And we should wake up the next morning on how we can do better even tomorrow. You see, i will never give up on the American People. And i will never give up on keeping our commitment to america. With that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman from missouri reserve . The gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Neal i yield one minute to the gentleman from oregon, champion of the Inflation Reduction Act and the tax credits that were included, mr. Blumenauer. Mr. Blumenauer its amazing how the republicans can make Political Drama appear smaller than life, major questions where they are reduced to political theater. And averting catastrophe but doesnt mean there is a real cost to america. We shouldnt let allow hostage taking and use the foundation taking of using the 14th amendment to avoid the debt ceiling and collect dollars from the wealthiest individuals and corporations and would be a strong signal about the fairness of our tax system. Republicans are pressing rich people for taxes they already owe that would subject people to more harassment and meaningless paperwork. We should concentrate on changing policies that would reduce the deficit. If there are time limits on benefits maybe start with 20,000 rich farmers who got one million or more for 37 consecutive years. If we acted in good faith it shouldnt be so hard and america will be the better. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman reserve . The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to the majority leader scalise. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Scalise i thank my friend for yielding and for his leadership on this bill. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in years, this congress is actually debating a bill that will reduce spending from one year to the next. Let me repeat it, reduce spending from one year to the next. Usually the debate is how much money will washington spend. The debt ceiling is the nations credit card and you saw out of control reckless spending to the tune of trillion of dollars where President Biden maxed out the nations credit card and at this point to address this problem. But, mr. Speaker, wouldnt it make sense at the same time we are addressing the problem that President Biden created with years of spending money that we dont have, that we have an honest discussion and start solving the problem that caused the nation to max out the credit card. Thats what this debate has been out for the last few months and debate that has been a Long Time Coming in this nation. Over months of the debate, no one gets everything they want, i think its important to talk about the things that we got, that we talk about the things that the American People will get out of this bill that will help start turning the trajectory of our nations spending in washington finally putting our country back on a path to keep this debate going. This is the first step. Lets make no mistake about it. This bill doesnt solve all of the problems that have been created over years and decades but starts to finally turn the ship of state in the right direction. And it starts with real savings. Over 2 trillion in actual spending cuts. Thats in the bill. Again very historic first step. And it doesnt mean thats where we stop but where we start. You dont get the next round in trillions of spending cuts if you dont lock in the first 2. 1 trillion that is in this bill. Something else we do, we reclaim for the taxpayers of america what has been identified as 28 billion in slush funds floating around washington all under the name of covid. President biden himself covid is over. We passed legislation in this house under this republican majority to end the pandemic to get our country and economy going again and 28 billion that is unspent that liberals want to spend and if we dont pass this bill they will spend that money in the name of covid even though covid is over, 28 billion should go back to the taxpayer. Those 28 billion are reclaimed so taxpayers get it back. Thats in this bill. Lets talk about the i. R. S. In my years of Public Service in the state level or congress, i never got a single call from a constituent said, the thing we want you to do is add more people to the i. R. S. And President Biden decided he wanted to double the size of the i. R. S. And go from 80,000 people to add not up to 87,000 but to add an additional 87,000 people and even according to the congressional budget office, they confirmed that it would break President Bidens promise. You heard it over and over again, if you make less than 400,000 a year you wont pay more. Maybe they are redefining what lower income means because if you are making less than 100,000 those new i. R. S. Agents will be going after you, the mom, the single mom working two jobs at a restaurant. And so we step in and say no. We have to end that madness. Over a billion cuts to the i. R. S. For them to stop doing just that. Another big area of savings. A lot of people take out loans, a loan to buy their first home. I know that is harder under the biden economy because Interest Rates are so high because of the out of control spending in washington that this bill will address so Interest Rates can go down and first families can buy their first home. The loan people take out is a student loan. I signed a document. And it helped me get through college and i worked my way through college, when i graduated there was never a day that some single mom ought to pay that loan back. I paid those loans back and most americans have done that. About 13 of the American People take out Student Loans. For some reason the president decided that he thinks 100 american taxpayers should pay the Student Loans of the 13 that dont want to pay them back. Is that fair . Is that fair to all of those people who are working hard and getting by in a tough economy . We start those loan payments back. Thats 60 billion in savings just this year, in the first year, so that people dont have to carry the burden for something somebody else said they would do. This is america. We make our choices. If you want to take out a loan, you should have that ability but shouldnt expect somebody else to pay it for you. Lets get it back to the values that made this country so great. We put we put permitting reforms in place. Anyone trying to build anything in america if youre trying to build a factory if youre trying to add a barn on your farm, if they inspect and find a buddle in the a puddle in the back, under the waters of america act, theyre trying to stop you from getting a permit. We fix thasmed we create a onestopshop, if youre trying to get a permit, if youre trying to play by the rule, somebody else cant game the system to stop you, they file a lawsuit with an agency and two years later with another agency and then another and then another and you give up and walk away by having a onestopshop but we also put shot clocks on unelected bureaucrats if a federal agency tells you that you have to get them some information back, they dont say hey, get it to us whenever you want. They give you a deadline. Its usually pretty soon if you dont meet that deadline you dont get your permit. But if you give them all the information you may wait six months, a year, or longer to hear back from the federal agency. These are people that work for the paction a taxpayers of america. Shouldnt they have the same requirements and a shot clock on them that they put on you, the American People, paying their salaries, thats in this bill. And finally, mr. Speaker, real work requirements. I dont think theres ever been a time in america where there are me jobs that are open. People looking for workers. You can go to a restaurant if you want to take your family out for a nice dinner, and youre seeing a third of the tables empty yet theyre not seating anybody because they dont have enough workers why is that . Because the federal government is paying millions of people right now not to work. Think about that. In america, where everybody is looking for workers, the federal government is borrowing money from countries like china to pay people not to work. This is insanity. For all the people out there that are working, theyre paying. Why dont we say for people who are ablebodied, able to get back into the work force theres a social safety net for people who run on hard times but if you just choose to sit at home and turn down jobs, thats your proroughingtive as an american, dont ask somebody who is working two jobs to pay for you to sit at home and turn down work by putting work requirements back in place, something joe biden himself voted for as a senator, you also strengthen Social Security and medicare. Two programs that are going bust under President Bidens runaway spending that we shore up in this bill. Actually strengthening those programs that are so important to the people who paid in for them. Theres more work to be done. Absolutely. And we will get to work tomorrow working on the next round of twhings need to do to keep getting this country back on track. But we never get there if we dont start with the first step. Thats what were doing here tonight. Thats why we need to get this bill passed and then go work on the next reforms weve got to do to continue strengthening this great nation, the United States of america. I urge passage and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. Mr. Neal the distinguished majority leader failed to mention we raised the national teat limit three times in Donald Trumps presidency he failed to point out that 8. 7 trillion was added to the National Debt during Donald Trumps presidency. With that, let me yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman, a productive member of the ways and Means Committee, mr. Pascrell. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pascrell mr. Chairman. The only problem is, our tax system is broken. And you dont want to talk about it. Emade strides we made strides to fix this problem with i. R. S. Investment. The i. R. S. Is coming after you, i saw those commercials. Youre better than that, guys. And gals. Youre better than. That no one is putting an army together. But we want to make sure everybody pays their fair share. What in gods name is wrong with that . And thats what were talking about. Fanned you look at the i. R. S. Estimates of those people getting away with murder, thats what the average american knows about, thinks about, but does little talking about because he figure he is cant do anything about it. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Neal i yield the gentleman 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pascrell so, article 1 is ignored many times by both parties, both sides of the aisle. It is the congress that has the power to put a budget together. Pretty simple. All americans must understand what is happening here. President biden put forward a budget to boost opportunity for working americans. Increased access to health care. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Pascrell tax fairness. Mr. Chairman, in the greatest country in the world, we dont fix our tax system, we have not done our job. As wongmens. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore as a reminder, members are reminded to direct their remarks to the chair. Does the gentleman reserve . Mr. Neal reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, democrats often say that the new i. R. S. Funding will only be used to go after the wealthy. This is simply not the case. I ask for unanimous consent to submit for the record a c. B. O. Blog post from 2021 examining the Biden Administrations 80 billion proposal and stating that it would return the audit rates to the levels of about 10 years ago and that that rate would rise for all taxpayers. Our calculations show that this would mean 600,000 more audits per year for taxpayers making less than 75,000 a year. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Smith i yield one and a half minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Kelly. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Kelly thank you, mr. Chairman. I come from a town called buck, pell, in the 16th district. In that district the average annual income for a family of four is about 52,000. Down here people laugh and say nobody can live on can live on 52,000 a year. I said in my district they do. In my district, they do. Lets talk about this, its Kitchen Table economics. Last year, we had about 4. 9 trillion in revenue. We spent 6. 2 trillion. Kitchen table economics is that you tell that family that earned 49,000, go out and spend 62,000 and they look at you like theres something wrong with your head and they say you cant do that. I said your government does. Your government does they do it every year they do it with your tax dollars. This is americas wakeup cull wakeup call. This isnt about the blue side of the house or the red side of the house. Look up in the gallery, thats red, white, and blue. Thats america. Those are the people that pay our taxes. All were asking tonight, did we look at the fiscal responsible act . What a weird name to be used in washington. I wish we could stop playing this game of who struck. Tonight is the night to turn this ship around. This is the u. S. S. Abraham lincoln. It takes more than one person at the wheel. Weve all got to to grab that wheel and weve got to start pulling on that wheel to turn this ship around. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Kelly thank you, i appreciate the time, i got to tell you, tonight is a wakeup call america. Not a republican wakeup cull or democrat wakeup call, but an american wakeup call. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman reserve . Mr. Smith reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Neal thank you. Youre alouding for me, mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, with that id like to recognize the distinguished gentleman, a member of the ways and Means Committee from illinois, mr. Davis, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized mr. Davis thank you, mr. Speaker. I commend President Biden, leader jeffries, all of our negotiators for the great work theyve done to keep us from defaulting on our debts. This agreement protects critical funding for children and families. And especially am i pleased with the protections for Homeless Youth in school. Foster children who have aged out of care. And veterans in need of health services. It protects medicare, medicaid, Social Security. This bill protects historic investments in clean energy. It also protects the 40 million student loan borrowers under President Bidens Student Loan Relief plan and it provides relief for of my concerns absnap and work benefits and work requirements in tanf. I still have some serious concerns about how it a. F. C. S the environment and responds to Climate Control issues. The bill is not everything i wanted. But it does give us an opportunity to pay our debt and protect the good work weve done during the first term of President Biden. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Davis i yield back. Mr. Neal we continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri. Mr. Smith i yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, the budget chairman, mr. Arrington. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Arrington thank you, mr. Speaker. As i have repeatedly warned, the fiscal state of our nation is in decline. Our Financial Health is rapidly deteriorating. And our National Debt is unsustainable. By the way, both parties bear some blame. But one thing is for sure, mr. Speaker. We didnt get here overnight. And we wont get out of this mess with just one piece of legislation. Heres my admonotoyings my colleagues. This cant just be a oneoff deal. It must be the beginning of a movement to restore fiscal sanity in our nations capital. We must end the era of Big Government funded on thebacks of our children. And change the culture in washington to continuously and repeatedly rein in our out of control deficit spending. But today, theres only one deal on the table and only one question for me and my colleagues to answer. Do the biggest cuts to the wasteful and bloated bureaucracy, record rescissions of federal funds and reforms to welfare and environmental regulations constitute a meaningful step in the right direction . Mr. Speaker, the answer is unequivocally yes. As ive said all along, we will pay our bills. Well protect the full faith and credit of the United States but we will not give politicians a blank check to bankrupt our country. The American People gave republicans the majority in the house to stop our democrat colleagues unbridled spending and reverse bidens failed economic policies. I believe the fiscal responsibility act is certainly a good start. Which is why i support this piece of legislation and i urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. Does the gentleman reserve . Mr. Smith reserve. Mr. Neal thank you, mr. Speaker. Let me recognize the gentlelady from alabama, a very capable member of the ways and Means Committee, ms. Sewell, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Sewell i rise in support of the bipartisan budget agreement, in order to protect medicare, medicaid and Social Security while also preventing a devastating default on our debt. To be clear, this bill is far from perfect but it prevents a default. It prevents future efforts to hold this nation hostage for the rest of the 118th congress. And it prevents cruel republican cuts. This budget agreement that President Biden negotiated funding for education, health care, veterans benefit, medicare, medicaid, and Social Security. Most importantly it prevents republicans from forcing a devastating default that would kill countless jobs in my district and destroy our economy. Mr. Speaker, i join in expressing my frustration with the crisis that my republican colleagues have manufactured. The American People deserve better than a republican majority that chooses to govern crisis by crisis. Lets lift this debt ceiling and get on with the peoples business in the peoples house. Thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. Mr. Neal we continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i yield one and a half minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Smucker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one and a half minutes mr. Smucker thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of the fiscal responsibility act. How could i not support a bill that claws back billions in unspent covid funds. A bill that cuts trillions in bidens out of control spending. A bill that caps spending levels for years to come. And a bill that enacts work requirements to bring more americans back into the work force, lift households out of poverty by connecting them with the best antipoverty job program, a good job. And most importantly this bill begins, its a start to put our nation on a better physical trajectory. Our debt to g. D. P. Is the highest since the end of world war ii. If we dont curve spending our federal debt will be double. This is a start. Now, i wish i could be voting for more than this. I liked our original bill a heck of a lot better. The faint is the president and the president and the democrats who control the senate fought hard to maintain their spending addiction given that we only control the house i am very pleased with all that is in this bill. It is definitely an improvement over existing law and im disappointed that my colleagues dont see that. This bill will give the creditors that we can govern by putting us on a better path. Its a step in the right direction and i am proud to support it. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal isnt anybody in this chamber that republicans will abide by a cap in defense spending in the next year. I yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from washington. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. I rise in support of the bipartisan agreement. This deal will protect American Families and our economy from a devastating default on our nations bills in just five days and shield our veterans, seniors, Law Enforcement and schools from the worst of extreme demands that my republicans demanded. This deal is far from perfect. But we cant let perfect be the enemy of the good. A dwawt would mean an immediate recession, millions of jobs lost, higher bor rmp owing costs. So we have a choice between a strofic catastrophic outcome. The worst outcome would be a default. Lets get this done and take default off the table. And i yield back. Mr. Neal i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri. Mr. Smith i yield one 1 2 minutes to the gentlelady from new york. The Rolling Stones said you cant always get what you want, you get what you need, and we need to avert a default that would stop checks to our seniors, benefits to our veterans hurt the u. S. Dollars. We also need to change fiscal trajectory of our nation and this bill does both by reducing inflationary spending in over the first time in a decade by the largest savings and adding checks and balances. We started where the president and senate refused to negotiate and ended with conservative wins that stopped biden hiring i. R. S. Agents and expanding work requirements to reduce Public Benefits and slow down Critical Infrastructure projects. While no deal is perfect, this is only the beginning and cannot allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. We have restored balance to government and put an end to the democrats massive inflationary spending spree and fight for the american taxpayers and stop reckless policies that fuel inflation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the house will come to order. Will members take their conversations off the floor. The house will come to order. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal a very capable woman is gentlelady from wisconsin, congresswoman moore for one minute. Ms. Moore republicans claim they had to threaten the economic wellbeing every man, woman and child because of the 31 trillion. Well hypocrisy has a name, g. O. P. Their red line was not financial but to double down on the socalled work requirements, thank god the white house negotiations pushed back in these changes in tanf that would have saved 6 million. No speaker after speaker has insisted on denying food to poor, old women who are primarily black and brown. And it seems like the pound of flesh that you get is more delicious than having savings. Just wait, before the ink is dry on this bill, you will be pushing for 3. 5 trillion in business tax cuts. Watch my word. You heard it first. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. Mr. Neal i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to mr. Mewsesser. Meuser. Mr. Meuser while the fiscal responsibility act is not perfect and god knows we need serious corrections but there are provisions in this bill that will benefit our economy and advance a higher level of fiscal responsibility and lets be honest, this is the most conservative bill that can pass with a Biden White House and schumer senate. This stops the excessive spending and adds to our work force with work requirements and includes environmental and permitting reforms in 40 years. This is coming from the associated general contractors of america, the petroleum, the National Association of manufacturers, virtually every Small Business of association, every business, americans for tax reforms and americans for prosperity. This brings in the executive order spending which accounted for 1 trillion in spending. There is reduction of the i. R. S. And protects Social Security and all the while we will avoid a catastrophic default. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from missouri continues to reserve. The gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Kneel kneel i yield mr. Neal i yield one minute to the gentleman from michigan. Mr. Kildee thank you to my friend, the Ranking Member for that. Paying americas bills isnt an option, defaulting on our debt would have a consequence for every single american. It would increase every familys costs and eliminate jobs and threaten the security. We shouldnt be in this position. Its a manufactured crisis. The republican majority created this because they didnt have the will to submit their ideas to the legislative process. Rather holding us all hostage to exact this price, to exact this legislation. When we could have gone through the legislative process of making decisions about the priorities of this country. They have the majority on the appropriations committee, on the ways and Means Committee, on the Budget Committee. They ought not fear the argument over these issues. We need to make sure we accept the fact when you come to a compromise, we need to protect the American People from catastrophic default. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock. Mr. Mcclintock this is the first time in my 15 years that i voted to increase the debt limit. I do so because this measure places real constraints on future spending, more than 2 trillion, this makes this bill the most important victory in fiscal conservativism in more than a decade. The debt is more than a problem, reckless spending. There is only three ways, taxes, inflation or debt. Its the spending, stupid. We have a long way to go. But until the American People have had enough and replace the president and the senate majority, this is a remarkable step forward. And many provisions in the bill provide the most economic expansion. Defeating this will create a panic that will get rid of the reforms that are in this bill and cannot let that happen. Mr. Smith reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal i yield to the gentleman from virginia. Mr. Beyer i rise in support of this imperfect bill. Look, i voted would have voted for a clean debt limit increase as we did three times under the previous president. The republicans chose to use the American People as leveraging and unnecessary. We are in a divided house and we can leveraging this. And they dont here. When they want to protect the well hiest tax cheats. And President Biden worked to prevent a majority of the draconian tax cuts. And it would be a catastrophe if we dont pass it. I will vote yes and permanently abolish the debt ceiling. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. The gentleman from missouri. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to the gentleman from new york, mr. Loller. Mr. Lawler i rise my sport for the act. We must negotiate, we must cut spending and colt default. The f. R. A. Reduces Discretionary Spending for the first time in decades and largest deficit reduction and cuts nondefense and nonveteran spending to below 2022 levels one of the primary goals. It saves taxpayers 2. 1 trillion while blocking 5 trillion in new taxes proposed by the Biden Administration and caps spending at 1 growth over the next six years and House Republicans will have the opportunity to reduce spending even more. That will help us take on the Biden Administrations reckless spending head on, crack down on record inflation and get our economy on the right track. This bill protects Social Security, medicare and Veterans Benefits despite false claims by my democratic colleagues that we were going to cut those programs and acts safeguards on executive spending and functional appropriation process. With a divided government, no party is going to get 100 of what it wants. We have the responsibility to govern and default is not an option. The fiscal responsibility act protects our commitments to veterans and seniors and raises the debt ceiling so we will not default. I will vote aye. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal i yield one minute to the gentleman from from philadelphia, congressman evans. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Evans this bill is far from perfect. However the full faith and credit of the United States is at risk and we cannot let republicans drive us to default. Defaulting on the National Debt would disrupt Social Security benefits for the 2,000 households. I will not stand by and let harm to our nation. I urge my colleagues not to throw out this debt crisis and lower the cost for working families. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri reserves. Mr. Neal can we have a breakdown of the time . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts has 10 minutes, the gentleman from missouri has four minutes. Mr. Neal let me yield to the gentleman from illinois, mr. Schneider. One minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized for one minute. Snide snide i rise in support of the bipartisan budget agreement and President Bidens work to ensure our nation pays its bill and avoid catastrophic economic crisis. This protects the bipartisan achievements achieved such as the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act, chips and science act and pack act and inflation and addressing climate change. We will prevent devastating cuts to lifesustaining pliedges tanf. We keep america move tbargd to meet the changes head of us. Compromise requires give and take on both sides to reach this agreement. That is a result of bipartisan deal making. I look forward to holding up this epresident s side of this bargain. I hope this is a learning moment and we can avoid future political brinksmanship. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. Thank you, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from massachusetts reserves. The gentlelady from missouri reserves mr. Neal let me yield one minute to the gentleman from california, mr. Panetta, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute mr. Panetta i support the bipartisan budget agreement to raise the debt ceiling because if we dont we will devastate the Global Markets and undermine the faith of the worlds most important financial system, the United States of america. I support a clean raising of the debt ceil bug elections have consequences and my colleagues on the other side wanted to use their leverage for concessions. And so in a divided government it gets us this bill. Legislation that would raise the debt ceiling until 2025. Two, the bill would stop the drastic cuts desired by the republicans and it would protect Social Security, medicare and medicaid. And although it limits snap for certain ages it expands those type of benefit for veterans and the homeless. Finally we protect the legislation we passed last congress to invest in infrastructure, manufacture, redeuce our drug costs and care for veterans. Part of this bill even furthers our transition to clean energy. I will vote for this bill but we have a lot more to do if we want to get serious about reducing our debt and deficit. But that only begin when we stop govern big crisis and start governing by leadership. Thank you, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. The gentleman from missouri. Mr. Smith i yield one minute to the gentleman from texas, mr. Pfluger. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute mr. Pfluger i rise on behalf of my district, the most Important Energy district in the country, and on behalf of American Energy independence and on behalf of all american searching for a reasonable solution to a looming crisis. There are approximately right now 229 major fossil fuel projects in the United States currently awaiting permit approval. A recent study found that 157 billion in Energy Investment was stuck in the nepa pipeline and simply a twoyear nepa deadline would spur 67 billion in Energy Investment. Killing Energy Projects by the bureaucratic red tape nightmare and the slow walking we have seen is unacceptable. No more. Im extremely proud of the energy reform, the nepa reform, the e. P. A. Reforms in this bill. The first in over 40 years which will speed up over 200 projects to lower costs for consumers and protect our national security. This bill is not perfect and arguably it shouldnt be a divided government yields compromise and it slows the heavy hand of government but saving 2 trillion lifting families out of poverty and defunding i. R. S. Agents is worth it. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The chair recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal i want to yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from the virgin islands, congresswoman plaskett. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Plaskett thank you, mr. Speaker. Through democrats leadership, democrats have protected our hardearned, historic economic recovery. That team secured an agreement that prevents republicans from forcing devastating default and rejects their most extreme cuts in the g. O. P. Default on america bill. President bidens agreement protected Social Security, medicare, medicaid, Veterans Health care. This was a negotiation with individuals whose priority was culting Food Assistance and protecting the wealthy and that was their main priority across the entire negotiation. Fiscal responsibility . Their only responsibility was to protect their tax cuts for ultra wealthy that grew the debt to 7 trillion in the first place. The president s the president successfully insisted that this agreement was going to include timely it needed to include improvements to snap. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. Ms. Plaskett democrats understand the needs of the American People and our most vulnerable americans as well as the full faith and credit of the United States. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. The gentleman from most is recognized mr. Smith id like to remind my colleagues that because of the republican tax cut and jobs act the bottom 20 of earners saw their average federal tax rate fall to its lowest level in 40 years. Low and middle income families of four saved at least 2,000 on their tax bill each year. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri cons to reserve. Mr. Neal let me recognize the distinguished gentleman from georgia, the Ranking Member on the agriculture committee, mr. Scott, for one minute. Mr. Scott thank you very much. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Scott ladies and gentlemen this is a most historic night. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman will suspend the house will be in order. The gentleman neeldz to be heard. Mr. Scott thank you. First of all i want to thank President Biden, President Biden invited me along with the other leaders and Ranking Member and chairman of our agriculture committee, and they gave me a chance to Talk Straight to the president. About the serious food shortage thats coming to our veterans. Right now when i told him and many of you may not know this, but the veterans are living in more insecure food households than anybody else. A 7. 4 higher than the general public. And when i told President Biden that, he said, weve got to do something about it. And thats when he moved with his energy to be able to take not only the veterans but snap and others off of work requirements. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Scott god bless this president. The speaker pro tempore the chair will remind members they need to remove their conversations from the floor. Speakers deserve onton heard. The gentleman from missouri vie neck deserve to be heard. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith i continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal let me recognize the gentleman from indiana for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. I ran for congress to solve problems and this legislation averts a crisis. A default would jeopardize millions of people with unemployment, increase Credit Ratings or increase Interest Rates and risk retire yeses and devastate their 401ks. A default would also devastate workers this bill not only increased created jobs but also with a strong buy american provision strenltened our domestic steel and Manufacturing Base and it also allows for our members, our veterans, to be protected and puts funds dedicated to the Health Benefits and provides resources for the toxic pokes sure fund. I appreciate the dedicated work of the administration and the democratic colleagues for my neighbor grech whon is had anxiety about her 401k, this bill supports the american workers, it supports the american industry, the Steel Industry and it also protects the american dream. Im voting yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri is recognized mr. Smith i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. Mr. Neal can i inquire as to how much time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts has five minutes remaining. The gentleman from missouri has two and a half minutes remaining. Mr. Neal were waiting on one speaker. Id like to move this along depending on what the chairmans position is youre prepared to close . Mr. Smith yes. Mr. Neal sprk were prepared to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized for closing mr. Neal thank you, mr. Speaker. I think this has been an elevating conversation about how we arrive here tonight. Our colleagues on the other side, they voted for the infrastructure bill, they voted for the chips act, they voted for the cares act, they voted for the defense spending increases. And they voted for a tax cut in 2017 that borrowed . 3 trillion that was added to the National Debt. Now for those who might be paying attention tonight, the National Debt is the cumulative effect of deficits. These were annual deficits that were run up. Neither party is responsible for the pandemic. On march 11 of 2020, we were warned what was coming. 20 million jobs evaporated. Tonight in some measure because of the leadership of joe biden, every one of those jobs has been returned and 9. 5 million jobs go unanswered. In this negotiation, which means you dont get everything you want, there are some quality moments that we take great credit for. We defended st. Despite the fact there were three republican senators who proposed cuts to Social Security. Thats the reality. We defended medicare. We defended medicaid. We defended Veterans Benefits. And very proud of the fact that we wrote the pandemic relief act. Theres a group here tonight, ive been here long enough to know this. They were against this before they were against it. They were against it years ago. Never mind tonight. But this moment of bringing the nation to default, what this does or what it would do to the american dollar, the currency of choice for the world what this would do in treasury markets for liquidity purposes, what this would do to the harrearned 401k plans of the american family, to take us to this moment, in this showdown that we had. This argument tonight was never about perfection. All 435 members of this house would probably have written a different version of this bill. But in divided government thats not reality. The last point i want to make is this. In coming days, after this righteous debate about balancing the budget, our republican colleagues are about to offer a massive tax cut. We need to be ready because of the fiscal rectitude they have offered on this floor tonight. So the corresponding responsibility of all of us is to point out what they intend to do with another tax cut. 201, 1. 3 trillion dollars. And two more wars, and two million more vet wreans need to support. Back in 2003, another 2 trillion of tax cuts. The worst one of all, the tax cut in december of 2017 with a boar where they borrowed 2. 3 trillion for a tax cut that went to the wealthiest among us and had very meager Economic Growth. So this debate tonight was a good and spirited one because we also, i think, have found a common purpose in passing this legislation. But lets engage this debate going forward. If we want the things that we say they want, we have to pay for them. And that means at some point revisiting these tax cuts that have been put on the table in an arbitrary fashion and as i noted with barroed money. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts yields back. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Smith you know, mr. Speaker, we hear the other side of the aisle over and over talk about the tax cut and jobs act. Let me tell you about the tax cut and jobs act. Last year, we had record revenue into the United States of 4. 9 trillion. Which was not 900 billion plus more than what joint tax and c. B. O. Predicted what would happen upon passage of the joinb act. The tax cut and jobs act deliver forward family of four who makes less than 60,000 a year that they pay zero in federal taxes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman will suspend. The house will be in order. Members will remove their conversations from the floor. The gentleman deserves to be heard. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, lets talk about tax cuts. The other side passed something called the Inflation Reduction Act and it was tax cuts for their wealthy donors. In fact, the c. B. O. Just came out with a new score saying that it cost over 700 billion. But guess what. 90 of your tax credits go to corporations with more than 1 billion in revenue. And it goes to 125 billion to china. Thats what your tax cuts did. After years of washington running in the wrong direction, we have an opportunity to take meaningful steps in the right direction on addressing americas debt crisis. The american the American People deserve nothing less. They see what inflation, caused by reckless spending of the democrat party, has done to their family budgets, to their retirement security, and to their Small Business plans. We have the opportunity to end the constant doling out of tax dollars under the guise of covid relief. We have the opportunity to downsize the 80 billion pay raise that was given to the i. R. S. Last year. The i. R. S. Does not need a raise. It needs a reckoning. We have the opportunity to support those who can work to find work and climb out of poverty. We have the opportunity to put some guardrails on the administration, so if they are going to spend tax dollars by executive fiat, they have to find savings somewhere else. We have the opportunity and the responsibility to address our debt crisis as we address the debt ceiling. I yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from missouri reserves. Yields back the balance of his time. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the chair. All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 456, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Third reading. The clerk a bill to to provide for a responsible increase to the debt ceiling. The speaker pro tempore the question is on passage of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed say no. Aye. No. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. Without objection for what purpose does the gentleman the gentleman from massachusetts asks for a recorded vote. Those in favor of a recorded vote will rise. A sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, this 15minute vote on passage of the bill will be followed by 5minute votes by a 5minute vote on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 2797. This is a 5minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 314, the nays are 117. The bill is passed. Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentlewoman from missouri, mrs. Wagner, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 2797, as amended, on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title. The clerk h. R. 2797. A bill to amend the securities act of 1933, to require certification examinations for accredited investors and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 383. The nays are 18. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The chair lays before the house a communication. The clerk the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, sir, i write to inform you that i am resigning my position as the member of the United States congress representing the first Congressional District of rhode island effective at the close of the legislative day of may 31, 2023. It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent the first Congressional District of rhode island in the United States house of representatives, and i am eternally grateful for the trust and faith that the people of the First District placed in me to serve as their member of congress for the past 12 years. Enclosed, find a copy of the letter i have submitted to the rhode island governor, damage j. Mckey daniel j. Mckey, signed sincerely, david cicilline, member of congress. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 3z of the House Resolution 5, the house stands adjourned until 11 00 a. M. Tomorrow. Folks, the bill perfects a deal between President Biden and how speaker evan mccarthy. It caps off federa Discretionary Spending levels and worsens unspent covid19 pandemic relief fund. It implements new work requirements for food smps and a quicker permitting process for Energy Projects. The deal was