Back in Indiana, when a tree falls on your house, first you tend to the wounded, then you start the cleanup and then you sit down and figure out how to pay for it.
The Congress of the United States, in the wake of the worst natural catastrophe in our nation's history, responded to the needs of the wounded and the cleanup, appropriating more than $60 billion in six days. But this week, in conjunction with the Senate, this Congress will come together to figure out how we're going to pay for it.
After passing the Deficit Reduction Act, which found more than $50 billion in savings in entitlement spending over the next five years, Congress this week will come together on that measure as well as, it is our fondest hope, an across-the-board cut in this year's federal budget.
It is absolutely imperative that this Congress demonstrate the ability to make tough choices, even during tough times, to put our fiscal house in order. President John F. Kennedy said it best when he said, 'To lead is to choose.'
And this week, perhaps at some late hour into the weekend or early next week, we'll see who is willing to come to this floor and make the hard choices to put our fiscal house in order.
We must do more, but we dare not do less.
