Aderholt Votes Against Raising the Debt Limit

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Aderholt Votes Against Raising the Debt Limit
Demands Spending Reductions and Reforms Accompany Any Debt Limit Increase

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the House Committee on Appropriations, today voted against H.R. 1954, a provision to implement the President’s request to increase the debt limit. The measure failed to pass the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 97-318.

“If the Administration and Congressional Democrats want us to pay their bills, we need to see a commitment made to making significant spending cuts and immediate reforms to put an end to wasteful Washington spending,” said Aderholt. “Any increase in the debt limit must come with substantial spending cuts and as of today, there are no assurances that continued reductions and reforms will be included.”

“House Republicans have made great strides in reducing wasteful Washington spending, since taking control of the House in January. As Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I understand the need to reign in government spending firsthand. Later this week, H.R. 2017, the FY12 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill is scheduled to be on the House floor, and it is a prime example of the work House Republicans have been doing to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars. H.R. 2017 prioritizes spending to front line operations, cuts underperforming programs and implements reforms to ensure cuts continue in the years to come. House Republicans are making the tough choices to ensure fiscal responsibility every day, it is important that the Administration and others in Congress do the same.”

Over the past two years, the Administration and Congressional Democrats have overseen the largest budget deficits in the history of the U.S. Since the President took office, the debt limit has been raised three times for a total increase of $2.979 trillion.

“We cannot afford to continue to accommodate this type of spending and move forward with yet another blind increase of the debt limit. To create jobs and save our country from national bankruptcy, we must stop spending money we do not have,” concluded Aderholt.

Aderholt currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the powerful House Appropriations Committee, sits as a member of the Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science; and Agriculture Subcommittees, and also serves on the Helsinki Commission.

For more information about Aderholt’s work in Congress visit www.aderholt.house.gov.