This week, the House passed an appropriations package to fund some government agencies through Fiscal Year 2023. This sprawling spending package is notable because it provides a look under the hood of my Democrat colleagues spending and policy priorities. Based on how the Majority party has governed over the past 18 months, it was no surprise that this exorbitant package is full of unnecessary provisions that will expand the size and scope of the federal government, which is turning into the status quo for Washington.
Last week, we learned that consumer prices rose by 9.1 percent compared to June 2021, marking yet another 40-year high. American families, young adults, and employees are struggling to pay for basic necessities such as groceries, gas, and housing. So, it comes as no surprise that nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe our country is headed in the wrong direction.
The spending bill that passed the House this week is out-of-touch with everyday Americans for a number of reasons. Instead of addressing the self-inflicted economic crisis, this bill increases funding for multiple agencies that simply don't need more money, which will further fuel inflation.
Here are a handful of my concerns with this enormous spending package:
- $1 billion increase for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- $8.9 billion increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- 20 percent increase in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- 30 percent increase in funding for the Federal Trade Commission
- Over $600 million increase in funding to pursue Green New Deal priorities
- Undefined slush fund for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
Last year, President Biden made the largest increase in history to SNAP benefits to dramatically expand the size of the federal welfare program. Despite the President's large investment in SNAP, this bill provides the program with an arbitrary slush fund on top of $9 billion that's already set aside in the event of unanticipated participation increases in the program.
In June, for the first time in our history, Border Patrol officials apprehended over 200,000 illegal immigrants for the fourth consecutive month. This bill not only fails to revive our failed immigration system, it actively encourages illegal immigration. For example, landlords participating in HUD programs would be prohibited from screening tenants based on bad credit, criminal history, and immigration status, which would undoubtedly further attract illegal immigrants.
In addition, this bill seeks to permit the funding of abortions with your taxpayer dollars, which is a shameful attack on life, and particularly inappropriate coming from the government. It also upholds a policy from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow for the mailing of abortion pills, which opens the door for these pills to be distributed without supervision from medical professionals and potentially end up in the hands of minors.
As our country faces multiple crises, this bill doubles down on extreme social spending that will only antagonize rising prices, the border crisis, and failed energy policies. To make matters worse, no clear attempt was made to decrease spending in other areas to offset the fiscal impact of these spending initiatives.
For every dollar printed by the Federal Reserve, the dollars already in circulation lose value. If Washington cannot withhold the urge to print and spend more money now, as our national debt towers above $30 trillion and inflation is red-hot, will the President or my colleagues in Congress ever cut back on their addiction to spending?
As businesses, workers, and families are paying more for everything, I'd like your feedback on our government's spending habits.
