Press Releases

Rep. Jim Banks Calls for 14% Cuts to Non-Defense,
Discretionary Spending in House Appropriations Bills

Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) proposed an amendment cutting all nondefense, discretionary spending by 14 percent in the Democrat majority’s appropriations package. The amendment is the second of its kind offered by Banks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Said Rep. Banks, “Cutting 14 cents on every dollar is the first step in reining government spending to begin tackling our $22 trillion debt.  As a father with three young daughters, I find it reprehensible to saddle their generation, and their children’s generation, with crippling debt just because we lacked fiscal discipline to address Washington’s spending problem ourselves. As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee Task Force on Budget and Spending, I was proud to lead the effort to produce a budget that would balance in six years and cut over $12.6 trillion in spending. To date, this is the only budget proposed in this Congress. Hoosiers across Indiana work hard to balance their checkbook, and I will fight tirelessly to make sure the government lives up to their example.”

Background

The 14% percent cuts proposed by Congressman Banks, when applied to all non-discretionary accounts, would bring non-defense discretionary spending below the FY2020 cap set by the Budget Control Act. Congressman Banks’ amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Division, though ultimately defeated, was supported by 150 members. A vote on the Congressman’s amendment to State and Foreign Operations Division is scheduled for next week. Congressman Banks will continue to offer the same amendment to all non-defense discretionary accounts as the appropriations process moves forward.

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Congressman Jim Banks represents Indiana’s 3^rd Congressional District and serves on the House Armed Services Committee, Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Committee on Education and Labor.  Please direct all press inquiries to tw.arrighi@mail.house.gov.