Congressman Lawler released the following statement after news broke of a debt ceiling deal between Speaker McCarthy and President Biden. The deal will limit federal topline spending to 1% annual growth over the next 6 years, fully fund veterans programs while protecting Social Security and Medicare, and rein in executive overreach.
“As I said repeatedly throughout this process, the President must negotiate with Speaker McCarthy, we must cut spending, and we cannot default. That is exactly what the Fiscal Responsibility Act does and exactly why I am an ‘aye’ vote on the bill,” said Congressman Lawler. “With a divided government, the only way forward is to find compromise and put the interests of the American people above all else. I am hopeful that my Republican and Democrat colleagues will join me in supporting this critical legislation and put America back on the path to fiscal sanity.”
“Not only did Speaker McCarthy reduce federal spending for the first time in decades, but he also secured caps on federal spending for the next 6 years. In addition, the bipartisan agreement will fully fund our military and veterans programs and protect Social Security and Medicare, items critical for my support of the Fiscal Responsibility Act,” continued Congressman Lawler. “While there are folks on both sides of the aisle who will rail against this bill and claim it doesn’t go far enough or goes too far, the fact is this bill will significantly bend the curve on spending while preserving the full faith and credit of the United States.”
“It is now incumbent on all of us to put politics aside and recognize the limits, as well as the possibilities, within a divided government — gridlock and inaction are not an option,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “This legislation is a win for the American people and I’m proud to support it.”