Record high spending bills are passing the House without a chance for Members of Congress and the American public to read the legislation.  It is time to stop voting blind.  Yesterday Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) and I introduced H.Res. 554, a resolution requiring the House of Representatives to make bills and conference reports available online for 72 hours before they are considered by the House.  This resolution will enhance public participation in our democracy and help restore the public trust in government by raising the level of openness, order and discourse.

Today the nonpartisan, nonprofit Sunlight Foundation praised this resolution. Ellen Miller, executive director and co-founder of the Sunlight Foundation said, “We commend Reps. Baird and Culberson for demonstrating such strong support for increasing legislative transparency in the House. By making the core activity of the House—the consideration of legislation—more transparent, this rules change would strengthen the public’s trust in the institution, improve legislation and trim wasteful spending. When legislation is not available for lawmaker or public review, we end up with special amendments like the Stimulus Bill’s last-minute loophole that allowed AIG executives to receive retroactive bonuses at the American taxpayers’ expense. If Congress and citizens alike had 72 hours to read the Stimulus Bill online, someone would have noticed the AIG provision and fixed it before it became law.”

On Wednesday in Las Vegas, President Obama marked the 100 days since his Stimulus Bill was singed into law. Over a million Americans losing their jobs and billions in new spending and new debt is no record to highlight. Since February 17^th, 2009, the day the president signed the Stimulus Bill into law, we have seen:

• 1,597,000 jobs lost and unemployment numbers at their highest levels in two decades.
• The president spend billions of your tax dollars.
• Our nation accrue $511.9 billion in new debt.
• OMB and CBO revise the FY2009 Deficit projection to $1.84 trillion.
• The president propose over $600 billion in new taxes – the largest tax increase in American history.

In my opinion, the president’s Stimulus Bill has been a fiscal flop. President Obama should stop throwing parties and fundraisers out in Las Vegas and start discussing the urgent financial crisis that threatens our fiscal and economic stability. Our government is currently borrowing about 50 cents for every dollar we spend. Medicare is already paying out more in benefits than it collects and Social Security is expected to do the same in less than five years. The total unfunded liabilities for the United States are $57.6 trillion, which exceeds the net worth of America. Paying off this liability would require every American to write a check to the Treasury Department for $188,000.

I believe it is time to let Americans keep more of what they earn and for the government to spend less, which is why I supported a budget alternative that would do just that. I have also opposed these massive spending increases, voting against $1.6 trillion in new spending this year and against $2.3 trillion under the Bush Administration. It is time to start trusting and empowering individual Americans instead of the federal government. By taking these steps, our economy will see the growth and prosperity that have defined America for generations.

Yesterday in Las Vegas, President Obama celebrated 100 days since his Stimulus Bill was singed into law. Over a million Americans losing their jobs and billions in new spending and new debt is no reason to celebrate. Since February 17^th, 2009, the day the president signed the Stimulus Bill into law, we have seen:

• 1,597,000 jobs lost and unemployment numbers at their highest levels in two decades.
• The president spend billions of your tax dollars.
• Our nation accrue $511.9 billion in new debt.
• OMB and CBO revise the FY2009 Deficit projection to $1.84 trillion.
• The president propose over $600 billion in new taxes – the largest tax increase in American history.

The Stimulus Bill has been a fiscal flop and is nothing to celebrate. President Obama should stop throwing parties and fundraisers out in Las Vegas and start discussing the urgent financial crisis that threatens our fiscal and economic stability. Our government is currently borrowing about 50 cents for every dollar we spend. Medicare is already paying out more in benefits than it collects and Social Security is expected to do the same in less than five years. The total unfunded liabilities for the United States are $57.6 trillion, which exceeds the net worth of America. Paying off this liability would require every American to write a check to the Treasury Department for $188,000.

I believe it is time to let Americans keep more of what they earn and for the government to spend less, which is why I supported a budget alternative that would do just that. I have also opposed these massive spending increases, voting against $1.6 trillion in new spending this year and against $2.3 trillion under the Bush Administration. It is time to start trusting and empowering individual Americans instead of the federal government. By taking these steps, our economy will see the growth and prosperity that have defined America for generations.

that taxing polluters is an effective way to reduce carbon emissions, but the staggering costs of a cap and trade program will stifle our domestic energy and manufacturing sectors and result in major rate increases for consumers. The cap and trade plan should really be called “the light switch tax,” because if this bill becomes law, you will pay a tax every time you flip your light switch.

Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) recently introduced the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act of 2009, which would create a cap and trade program requiring CO2 emissions to be reduced 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. The bill would set up a cap and trade system that sets a limit (or cap) on total CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and establish a yet to be defined carbon allowance on each utility or company. Details such as cap levels and which companies are subject to allowances are still being finalized by Democrats, but the outcome looks grim for consumers.

Since fossil fuels supply 85% of US energy demand, taxing one of the most vital and productive sectors of our economy will only prolong and deepen the current recession. The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis’ study of the Lieberman–Warner cap and trade bill (a bill rejected by the Senate last year) found that the legislation would result in total GDP losses of nearly $5 trillion and job losses of 400,000 - 800,000 per year. The ACES Act is more restrictive and would cause even greater economic damage. The cost to Texas ratepayers alone could reach $20 billion in added electricity costs, which is an increase of over $600 per year in utility bills, according to a study commissioned by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that under a cap and trade program, companies would ultimately pass these costs along to their customers in the form of higher rates. CBO notes, “Regardless of how the allowances were distributed, most of the cost of meeting a cap on CO2 emissions would be borne by consumers who would face persistently higher prices for products such as electricity and gasoline.”

The reason for these dramatic cost increases is simple: The technology to comply with the steep renewable requirements in this bill does not exist today. The Waxman-Markey bill requires that 20 percent of electricity production comes from renewable sources (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) by 2020. Today Americans get less than 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources and the technological advancements, transmission capability, and commercial availability needed to meet these lofty standards are years, even decades away.

Economists estimate that consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of our economy. While our economy is struggling to recover from recession, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on American consumers, which is why I am a co-sponsor of the American Energy Innovation Act. This fiscally responsible approach encourages innovation by investing in renewable energy technology, promotes conservation by providing incentives for reducing energy demand, and increases production of American energy by utilizing available resources and streamlining burdensome regulations. These steps will make America energy self-sufficient and improve our environment in the process.

In the past 25 years, the US 290 Corridor has experienced considerable growth. Population has increased by 57% and road usage has skyrocketed by 95%. State road capacity, however, only grew by 8%. Over the next 25 years, the population in the corridor is expected to increase by an additional 64% and road usage is expected to increase 214%. The chronically congested 290 Corridor is facing serious problems.

Given these staggering numbers, today I am requesting $267 million for the US 290 Corridor to relieve congestion and improve the quality of life for Texans. With $227 million designated for the US 290 Corridor Expansion Project and $40 million for the Hempstead Commuter Rail, Texans can look forward to more time at home with their families and less time on the road.

In addition to reduced travel time, these funds will create over 50,000 jobs, attract new businesses to Houston, ensure that the air we breathe is cleaner, and expand a vital hurricane evacuation route.

Members of the Houston Community agree this request is an absolute necessity:

Ed Emmett - Harris County Judge: “Commuter rail is a necessary part of solving the congestion problems in the 290/Hempstead corridor. I appreciate Congressman Culberson’s leadership in addressing this priority for Harris County residents.”

Reginald Lillie - Chairman of the Board of Directors, Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce: “I want to offer my very strong support for Congressman Culberson’s request in the highway reauthorization bill for $267 million for the reconstruction of Hwy 290 and the $ 40 million for commuter rail along Hwy 290 also. These two projects are critically important to the mobility and economic development of Cy-Fair/ NW Houston, Waller and Prairie View communities. This is proof of his commitment and willingness to use every means within his Congressional capacity to bring relief of a major mobility burden and the possibility of expanded economic development to the residents and businesses of these communities.”

Barbara Thomason – President, Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce: “This is an extremely important corridor for northwest Harris County and one that has grown increasingly glutted in recent years from traffic resulting from the sheer growth of neighborhoods and business expansions. Without the influx of funding that could bring commuter rail and highway improvements to this corridor, we will quickly see the deterioration of this corridor. We see this as a critical, narrow window of time in which to act. We must be as proactive as possible so that our sprawling communities can have the infrastructure they need to maintain their economic health.”

In a little less than five months, President Obama and the liberal leadership in Congress have spent more than $1.6 trillion. Their policies have created the highest spending levels since World War II and exploded our national debt to $11 trillion. Today President Obama’s director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) updated his projections and is now anticipating a $1.8 trillion deficit for 2009, up from $1.2 trillion earlier this year. The CBO director also noted that the U.S. government is now borrowing 50 cents for every dollar it spends.

I voted against these wasteful spending programs, just as I did under the Bush administration, because common sense tells us that you don’t pay for borrowed money with borrowed money. We are a nation in debt and cannot continue writing checks when our bank account is overdrawn. American families do not budget this way and neither should the federal government.

As a fiscal conservative, I strenuously opposed these epic and unprecedented spending increases. The best way to stimulate the economy is to cut taxes and spending drastically. It is time to start trusting and empowering individual Americans instead of the federal government. It is time to let Americans keep more of what they earn and for the government to spend less. I believe that by taking these steps, our economy will experience the growth and prosperity that have defined America for generations.

Yesterday, Congressman Culberson introduced H. Con. Res. 117 which commemorates the 40th Anniversary of humanity’s first landing on the Moon, celebrates the success of the United States human space flight program, and recognizes the accomplishments of NASA’s human space flight centers.

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed Congress and said, “I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.” 

At that moment, a new space age was born. Just eight years later, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) achieved Kennedy’s goal when Apollo 11 departed Earth on July 16, 1969.  The mission of Apollo 11 – with a crew consisting of Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, Jr. – was to perform a manned lunar landing and return safely to Earth.

Millions of Americans watched on July 20, 1969, as the Lunar Module “Eagle” landed on the surface of the Moon, and Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the Moon and remarked, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”  The experiments conducted on the moon’s surface by Armstrong and Aldrin provided scientists around the world with new information about Earth’s nearest neighbor.  The lunar landing also inspired a new generation of Americans to enter the fields of science and engineering, setting the stage for future NASA successes.

It is timely to honor the 40^th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing while NASA continues human spaceflight today with the Constellation Program.  NASA facilities helping to carry out this program include Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Flight Center, and Stennis Space Center.  NASA’s greatest asset continues to be its people – the thousands of individuals across the country in both government and industry who conceive, design, build, operate, and manage an ambitious program of space exploration on behalf of our great Nation.

100 days into his presidency, President Obama and the liberal Congress have spent more than $1.6 trillion. Their policies have created the highest spending levels since World War II and exploded our national debt to $11 trillion. This is just the first 100 days, we still have 1,362 left in President Obama’s first term.

To mark the president’s first 100 days in office, House Democrats rushed through a partisan budget that reflects President Obama’s priorities. I voted against this budget because it raises taxes, contains record deficits for the foreseeable future, and raises the national debt by $2 trillion this year alone. We are a nation in debt and cannot continue writing checks when our bank account is overdrawn. American families do not budget this way and neither should the federal government.

The fact is we could not afford the first 100 days of President Obama’s reckless spending and we certainly can’t afford more of the same. I believe it is time to start letting Americans keep more of what they earn and for the government to spend less. By taking these steps, our economy will experience the growth and prosperity that have defined America for generations.

I recommend visiting this great website:  www.stopspendingourfuture.org