Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Republican Study Committee Budget Substitute. Former President Reagan said it best when he said, ``government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector.'' These are trying times and our Nation faces serious challenges in the coming months. With that in mind, it is irresponsible to fund projects that deter or deviate from the original intent of government. Instead, we must plan ahead and put forth our best effort to return to a balanced budget.

The RSC Budget includes all of President Bush's economic growth package, tax fairness proposals and balances the budget in 4 years. Four years. With the decreases in capital gains taxes, we will create over 1 million new jobs. There is no better time to return hard-earned money back to the American people. And I have no doubt that any effort to remain fiscally responsible will help boost economic growth.

In 1950, we were paying 2 percent of our money to the government. Today, that figure has skyrocketed to 30 percent. A 28 percent increase. In 2001, the Federal Government made $20 billion in overpayments. Not to mention that it cannot account for another $17.3 billion. Should not the American people be permitted to spend their money as they choose? How can we expect the people of this country to tighten their belt, when we cannot impose strict fiscal discipline on ourselves?

The RSC Budget includes a reserve fund for Social Security reform. Under the current system, nearly $6 trillion would be needed just to repay the trust fund. According to the Social Security Administration, it will take only about $7 trillion to fix the system permanently. Our baby boomers deserve a secure retirement. They paid for it.

This budget retains the President's defense spending numbers and the President's funding levels for homeland security--crucial now, when our courageous military heroes are depending on our support.

It is time to return to an era of economic prosperity. Time to put an end to reckless Federal spending. Men and women in our military are sacrificing their lives for our country. We have the power to do the same in Congress by making our own sacrifices to cut back on wasteful spending and balance the budget. There is no more appropriate time to do so than now. Having said that, I commend Mr. Toomey for introducing the best budget that he possibly could at this historic time in our Nation's history.

Mr. Speaker, Thomas Jefferson said, ``The great object of my fear is the Federal Judiciary. That body, step by step, holding what it gains, is engulfing insidiously the special governments into the jaws of that which feeds them.''

And today, Mr. Speaker, the object of my fear is an unrestrained judiciary, a judiciary too quick to abandon the ideals of our forefathers and the tenets of our Constitution, a judiciary swelling with unchecked authority.

The heart of a republic rests on its judiciary, Mr. Speaker, and the confirmation of Miguel Estrada is vital to this Republic. He is a brilliant attorney who has repeatedly upheld and has been upheld repeatedly and will continue to be upheld. He also upholds the virtues of this Nation's sacred Constitution.

Arriving from Honduras at age 18, speaking no English, this man has become the personification of the American dream. And I urge the President to stand strong in his support of Miguel Estrada and to stand strong in his support of making sure that we maintain a judiciary in this country that reads the law for what it is.

For if our judiciary continues on the path that it is, Mr. Speaker, I think perhaps the rest of us can go home. I just call upon the President to be encouraged and to recognize that there are Americans that are very grateful to him for the courage that he shows and for the clarity that he shows in his appointments.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that this appointment and this confirmation can go forward unfettered.