To direct unused appropriations for Members' Representational Allowances to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction or to reduce the Federal debt.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, House Rule X entrusts the Committee on House Administration with responsibility for, among other matters, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, United States Capitol Police, Printing and correction of the Congressional Record, Federal elections and other services to the House.

The Committee strenuously exercises its oversight authority by routinely meeting with the Legislative Branch agencies, the Officers and Inspector General of the House, and the Smithsonian Institution. Through this rigorous oversight the Committee has identified and implemented policies to reduce waste, eliminate fraud, and mitigate inefficiencies.

Among the Committee's recent work:

Passed H.R. 4825, to make permanent the law dedicating the unspent balances of Members Representational Allowances to deficit and debt reduction (measure is now pending in the Senate);

Passed H.R. 3690, 110th Cong. (became Pub. L. 110-178), merging the United States Capitol Police and the Library of Congress Police; during 111th Congress, oversaw merger process resulting in elimination of needless duplication of responsibilities, achievement of administrative savings and enhanced security for the Capitol campus;

Passed H.R. 1299, 111th Cong. (became Pub. L. 111-145), clarifying sundry laws related to the administration of the United States Capitol Police and streamlining USCP operations;

Partnered with the Smithsonian Inspector General in the development and implementation of a return-to-work program that transitions injured employees' return to appropriate work with a requirement that claimants provide updated medical reports; the Smithsonian estimates potential savings of nearly $2.1 million in workers' compensation costs;

Strengthened accountability for personal property at the Smithsonian Institution by requiring the agency to initiate regular inventories, leading to reduced agency spending to replace lost or stolen items;

Disapproved Library of Congress plan to spend nearly $20 million for a new book-conveyor system, resulting in its cancellation;

Instructed the Library of Congress to develop a cost-benefit analysis for all Information Technology investments in excess of $100,000 including developing of internal controls to eliminate redundant hardware and software purchases across business units;

Worked with the Inspector General of the House of Representatives to develop a cost-benefit analysis of the Chief Administrative Officer's joint effort with the Architect of the Capitol to deploy compact- fluorescent light bulbs within House office buildings, revealing potential savings of $1.18 million over ten years;

Instructed the Architect of the Capitol to develop and implement a procedure for assessing a tenant at the House Alternate Computing Facility for additional operating costs (e.g., electricity, facilities maintenance) properly chargeable to the tenant under the terms of the lease, revealing an additional amount of over $1 million due the taxpayer;

For the fiscal years 2010 and 2011, consulted with other congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the President's Office of Management and Budget to reduce the number of printed copies of the multi-volume President's Budget and instead to substitute distribution of the CD-ROM version wherever appropriate, resulting in savings to both the Executive branch and Congress; and

Worked with the Government Printing Office's Inspector General to block execution of a contract for delivery of human-resources and payroll-related services to certain elements of the agency instead of relying on GPO's agency-wide system, and encouraged the IG to redouble efforts to improve human resources' performance across GPO.

Among the Committee's recommendations for additional improvements are:

Extend beyond 2013 the current authority for levying of administrative fines by the Federal Election Commission pursuant to Pub. L. 110-433;

Strengthen the Speaker's new travel rules by requiring House committee chairmen to certify the existence of a bona-fide need for foreign travel under the Mutual Security Act. Repeal the law (44 U.S.C. 723) requiring compilation and publication of memorial tribute volumes in honor of deceased Representatives and Senators;

Repeal authority for printing of sundry government publications now required by law but determined to be of little use or value, e.g., the ``United States Treaties and Other International Agreements'' authorized by 1 U.S.C. 112a;

Reform Procurement practice of the Library of Congress;

Improve in-house technical support at the Library of Congress and Government Printing Office, reducing reliance on costly contractors; and

Require implementation of Performance Based Budgeting at the Library of Congress. Merge the Government Printing Office Police with the United States Capitol Police.

The Committee will also continue its oversight of the Legislative Branch and continually work to identify opportunities to reduce waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the operations of our agencies.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to commend my colleague from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) for introducing this legislation. This would simply turn over to the Treasury for deficit reduction anything left over in our account that is used to run our offices. This is good legislation. It should move forward. I must say, however, that we should go much further than this.

Part of the reason there is money in a lot of people's accounts to turn back is that we are given more than we need, typically because most Members

choose to send out thinly veiled campaign mail, I would assert, under the frank, or using taxpayer dollars. If I were to hold up in an election year--now there are blackout dates, so you can't send too close to an election. But still, spending goes up considerably in Member offices during a campaign year or an election year. If I were to hold up one of my campaign pieces of mail that I pay for with my campaign and something that's sent out that has the little words on there, Paid for at taxpayer expense, they're both four color, they're both colorful, nice pieces, lauding the Member of Congress for what he or she is doing, I defy anybody to tell the difference between regular campaign mail paid by campaign funds and somebody's taxpayer mailings. We shouldn't be doing this. And it seems that we get in our offices just an increased amount that is used because nearly every office does it.

We ought to lower that amount that every office receives or in some way ban the use of these colorful four-color mailings that go out. I am certainly not asserting that Members of Congress shouldn't be able to use the frank, and a lot of the mass mailings that go out are simply to inform constituents of town hall meetings or other events that are coming up. That is proper and right. But when Members of Congress are able to send out what is basically campaign mail at taxpayer expense, that's simply not right, and it's a practice that we ought to get away from.

I should note that over the past several years, it seems to be more blatant and more blatant and more blatant. There are certain words you cannot use describing yourself. There are things that are supposedly in there to prevent this from being blatant campaign mail. But again, if I held up two pieces, one piece of campaign literature and one piece mailed at taxpayer expense, I think the average constituent would have a hard time telling the difference. And that money that we save from getting rid of that practice should be applied against the deficit as well. Again, I thank the gentlelady for introducing this legislation. I hope that in the future we can go further.

I thank my friend for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4825. I commend my colleague from Arizona for bringing this legislation to the floor. Our $12 trillion debt will burden future generations, and this legislation before us today is a good start. But I think Congress must and can do more.

You don't have to go any further than the unemployment rates in this country. As you well know, Madam Speaker, the unemployment rate nationwide is around 10 percent. In my State, it's closer to 13 percent. In fact, in some counties in my district, it exceeds 17 percent. Foreclosure rates are high. Families in my district and throughout my State are losing their homes. Foreclosure rates in Nevada were four times higher than the national average. Families are making tough, tough decisions in the State of Nevada, and they're asking the question, Why aren't we making these same tough decisions here in Washington? And the reason is is that Washington feels no pain. We are in a recession-proof zone here in Washington, D.C. As we have in the last year hired more than 120,000 new Federal employees across this country, States and local governments are cutting their budgets, families are cutting their budgets, small businessmen are cutting their budgets, medium-sized businessmen are cutting their budgets. And yet here in Washington, D.C., we feel no pain. I think sending the unused congressional budget account funds to pay down the debt is one thing, but stopping the growth of this account is another.

The MRA account has grown nearly 50 percent since 2000. I introduced the reduction of irresponsible MRA, or the TRIM Growth Act, to prevent the MRA from increasing during times of high unemployment or public debt. My legislation would prevent the MRA from increasing unless national unemployment is under 6 percent or less for at least 6 months, consistent with the unemployment levels of the 1990s, or unless Congress reduces the national debt to less than $5.5 trillion, which was a reduction of 50 percent at the time this bill was drafted.

Congress ultimately needs to feel the same pain as the American people. Financial challenges facing our Nation cannot be solved in one day. And as public servants, Members of Congress must lead by example. In addition to passing this legislation today, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the TRIM Growth Act. Let's show the Americans who are figuring out their family budgets at the kitchen table today that they are not alone.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor the week of Monday, March 15, 2010.

For Monday, March 15, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 112 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1145), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 113 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1170), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 114 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1163), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 115 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 267).

For Tuesday, March 16, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 116 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 4628), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 117 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 311), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 118 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 605), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 119 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1128).

For Wednesday, March 17, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 120 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1089), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 121 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1167), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 122 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1184), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 123 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1141), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 124 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to S. 1147), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 125 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3954), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 126 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 946), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 127 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 4825).

For Thursday, March 18, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 131 (on motion to refer H. Res. 1193, raising a question of the privileges of the House), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 132 (on motion to table H. Res. 1193, raising a question of the privileges of the House), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 133 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3542), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 134 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3509), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 135 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1173).

I'm pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the bill I introduced with Mr. Peters, the Sensible Steps Toward a Balanced Budget Act, legislation that requires that money left over in a Member's Representational Allowance, or MRA, at the end of the fiscal year be deposited in the Treasury and used to reduce the budget deficit or national debt.

As a lifelong resident of greater Arizona, I grew up around hardworking families who knew that, when times get tough, you tighten up your belt and make every dollar count. I brought this sort of thinking with me when I came to Washington last year to represent those same hardworking families. By emphasizing efficiency in my office and focusing on the most critical items, I managed to spend over $100,000 less than what was authorized of my MRA. I was proud to save the taxpayers money and looked forward to seeing that money used to lower the national debt in this year and for years to come.

Every year, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee includes language in its appropriations bill to require that unspent allowances are used toward the national debt. Given these times, it is important that we make this requirement permanent.

The Sensible Steps Toward a Balanced Budget Act would do three important things. First, it would make the requirement to use unspent MRA funds toward the national debt automatic so that congressional action would no longer be necessary for this important provision to be put into place. Second, it would make the requirement permanent so that Congress does not have to pass another provision year after year. Finally, it would put the power of Federal statute behind this requirement rather than depending upon appropriations language.

In these tough times, we must get on a path of finding every opportunity, big and small, to put our fiscal house in order, and I believe that this bill is a concrete first step the Congress can take in that direction.

Thank you again, Chairman Brady, for the opportunity to discuss the Sensible Steps Toward a Balanced Budget, and I urge its passage.