Budget
![Budget Dollar with a bandage on it](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121016220231im_/http://heck.house.gov/sites/heck.house.gov/files/styles/section_front_boilerplate/public/fiscal-responsibility.jpg)
The Budget affects us all and dealing with these issues are important to my work in Congress.
I believe we need leadership from Washington on the tough issues. In order to save our children and grandchildren from a fiscal crisis, we must reduce spending and address the major drivers of our debt. The Republican majority in the House pledged to reduce our annual deficit, work toward eliminating our culture of big spending by banning earmarks, and implement a balanced budget.
In 1974, The Budget Control Act was signed into law. Among other things, this law set forth a policy that Congress was to annually adopt a budget resolution which would set the spending limits for the federal government. Since coming to Congress, I have twice voted for budget resolutions that would put our country on a sustainable fiscal path, address the major drivers of our debt, and preserve and protect critical safety net programs that provide health and retirement security for our seniors.
In March of 2012, the House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 112, which would set the spending limit for the federal government for the 2013 fiscal year while setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022. I voted in favor of the House Republican budget proposal because it takes serious steps toward getting our fiscal house in order. Our budget cuts spending by five trillion dollars over 10 years relative to the President’s budget, establishes a framework for an overhaul of our tax system by eliminating special interest loopholes, and shrinks the size of an often inefficient government. In addition, the House budget prevents deep, indiscriminate defense cuts while identifying strategy-driven savings in our military spending.
In addition, our budget preserves and protects Medicare and Social Security which provide health and retirement security for our seniors. This includes a strengthening of Medicare that will protect coverage for current seniors and preserve it for future generations.
I also introduced legislation to control Washington's runaway spending and reduce our deficit. H.R. 3494, the Restoring America’s Faith and Trust (RAFT) Act, will restore America’s faith and trust in the economy by reducing Federal spending, reducing the size of the Federal workforce, and liquidating certain property of the Federal Government.
Please be assured that I will continue to work on addressing the major issues with our debt so we can put our country back on the path to economic recovery.For more information concerning my work and views on Budget issues, please contact my Washington, DC office.