(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) released the following statement on passage of H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011, in the House of Representatives:

”This is an historic day, both for the U.S. House of Representatives and for the country as a whole. Never before has this body even attempted what we accomplished this past week in considering and passing H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011. This legislation contains over $100 billion in spending cuts when compared to the President’s budget for this year. That is a massive number, only made to appear smaller when compared to our projected $1.6 trillion deficit this year and the more than $14 trillion we currently owe in total.

"The cuts made in this bill are comprehensive and deep. If this legislation is enacted, these cuts will be felt by a large number of Americans, including many families in Northeast Minnesota. But the truth is the longer we wait to rein in our out of control spending and ever-growing debt, the deeper the cuts will have to be and the more painful they will become. We must make these cuts now so that future generations of Minnesotans are not saddled with mountains of debt they can never hope to repay and a lower standard of living, brought on by the free-spending ways of previous generations. That is not the future I wish to hand down to our children and grandchildren.

"In passing this bill, we have begun the process of getting our fiscal house in order. But make no mistake, the hill is steep and the climb is long. Future legislation considered in this House will need to look for even more savings. As we continue this process, you have my word I will be fair, open and honest with what actions I am undertaking to try to improve our economic position. I look forward to working with my constituents in the 8th District and my colleagues in the House as we work to preserve the nation we all care so deeply about.”

Congressman Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee –the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in Northeast Minnesota.