FLORES: Restoring Fiscal Discipline

U.S. Representative Bill Flores Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the House passage of H.R. 3 the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act: Today the House passed legislation that will help secure the futures of our children and grandchildren while making our federal government more efficient. The Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act cuts nearly $15 billion in federal spending by recouping funds for prior years that have not been spent and are no longer necessary for the federal government to carry out its day to day activities. With our national debt reaching $21 trillion Congress and the administration must utilize every fiscal tool at their disposal to promote economic growth and ensure prosperity for future generations. I applaud President Trump for sending this rescission package to Congress and his administrations commitment to put our fiscal house back in order. We must continue working to restore fiscal discipline and reduce federal government spending." Background The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974 established the current framework for consideration of rescissions proposed by President Trump. Under the ICA there are special procedures and parameters for consideration of these requests in Congress. A rescission is the permanent cancellation of previously enacted budget authority which eliminates the Administrations ability to spend a specific amount of money on a specified program. Between fiscal years 1974 to 2000 rescissions were a commonly used procedural tool and reached a peak of 245 rescissions proposed in fiscal year 1985. Since enactment of the ICA 1178 rescissions have been proposed to cancel $76 billion in budget authority. Prior Congresses have enacted 461 of these requests totaling $25 billion. However no ICA rescissions were proposed during fiscal years 2001 to 2017.