Friends,
Congress holds the “power of the purse.” It’s a well-known statement, but it barely scratches the surface of explaining how Congress actually fulfills the responsibilities assigned in Article I, Section 9, of the U.S. Constitution.
In 1974, Congress passed the Congressional Budget Act (CBA) of 1974, which established a “modern” budget process – creating the Congressional Budget Committees and tasking Congress with agreeing to a concurrent budget resolution (setting the overall spending framework for the upcoming fiscal year) by April 15th of each year.
This deadline provides Congress with the time to fully analyze twelve individual appropriations bills – which actually spend the money to fund the different divisions of the government. According to the CBA’s framework, all twelve bills are to be put through an intense review and debate process in the House and Senate to ensure that every area of our spending is well-vetted to prevent waste and abuse and to keep our country on sound financial ground.
At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to work.
Since 1974, Congress has agreed to a budget resolution – by the deadline – only six times, it has avoided agreeing to a budget for years at a time, and it hasn’t had a balanced budget in over two decades. When considering appropriations bills, Congress has not allowed all twelve bills to individually pass through this strenuous system in decades – instead, they are typically combined into large “minibus” or “omnibus” packages of multiple bills grouped together.
Are you starting to see an issue?
As a result of not adhering to this process of accountability that we self-imposed in 1974, our nation has continued to accrue debt that now totals over $32 trillion. This bloated spending is unsustainable, and we have a responsibility to change our ways and restore sanity in our budget and spending process. I’m taking action to do just that:
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Last week, I introduced a Principles-Based Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will require spending and revenue to balance, taking a step towards restoring fiscal responsibility.
Unlike previous proposals, this amendment grants Congress the authority to agree on the principles of upholding a balanced budget before implementing specific policies that will help us reach balance.
It also:
- Require the budget to balance within 10 years of adoption;
- Allows Congress the flexibility to detail how the budget should be balanced;
- Allows Congress to incur deficits when addressing emergency situations with two-thirds support in both chambers.
- Debts incurred during this time are to be paid back as soon as possible.
Fiscal responsibility is necessary for our nation and the generations that follow. And, once we balance our budget, Congress can turn its attention to other critical issues facing our nation such as securing our southern border, lowering taxes, and supporting our nation’s veterans.
To learn more about my Principles-Based Balanced Budget Amendment, please click HERE.
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Over the last several weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and connect with East Texans across the First District. Folks like the leadership team at Titus Regional Medicare Center, veterans at the Rose City Airfest, dedicated team members at the Lowes Distribution Center in Mount Vernon, and those at the Walmart Academy in Longview working to build on their career – thank you for taking time for me.
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Our nation was founded on the principle of democracy, where every citizen’s vote is sacred. But our democracy depends on the American people having confidence in the democratic process, which begins with securing our elections and eliminating corrupt policies.
The American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act, introduced by Chairman Bryan Steil, is the most comprehensive election reform package in decades. Including over fifty unique bills – such as my own District of Columbia Ballot Security Act. This legislation works to end failing election policies and bolster confidence in American elections, while still preserving the ideals of federalism in the area of elections.
To learn more about the American Confidence in Elections Act and my own District of Columbia Ballot Security Act, please click HERE.
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This year has flown by! I am looking forward to hosting my seventh Tele-Townhall on Monday. July 17th at 7 PM CT! During this event, I will be speaking directly with East Texans about the issues impacting their daily lives, my work in Congress, and my recent visits across East Texas.
If you are interested in joining the conversation, you can dial-in at (888) 485-5170.
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I was recently recognized as a Guardian of Seniors’ Rights by the 60 Plus Association for my work safeguarded the voice and rights of our seniors. It is an honor to serve those who paved the way for the next generation, and I look forward to building upon my work to continue advocating on behalf of our seniors.
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My office is now accepting applications for internship positions for the Fall 2023 semester in my Tyler office. These positions are available for full-time and part-time candidates.
Interns in these offices will get first-hand exposure to the functions of our government, and they will gain invaluable knowledge of the legislative process of the United States Congress. Intern responsibilities include assisting our constituents, performing administrative tasks, and conducting legislative research.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Nikki.Bainum@mail.house.gov. For more information, please click HERE or call my office at (202) 225-3035.
With gratitude,
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Nathaniel Moran
Member of Congress
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