Congressman Robert Hurt
Weekly Column 2/04/13
"It is an honor to serve Virginia's 5th District in Congress and I would like to start by welcoming those in Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Madison Counties to the new 5th District.
"After being sworn in on January 3rd, I had the pleasure of making stops in the new parts of our district as we kicked off our first district work week of the 113th Congress. Though we have entered a new year, the same challenges persist. Virginians all across the 5th District remain concerned with our nation's fiscal health as our economy continues to be plagued by out of control spending and minimal job growth.
"A new Congress gives us a renewed opportunity to work together and I am optimistic that we will meet these challenges head on. As President Obama was sworn-in for his second term, we were reminded of the blessings we enjoy as Americans and we were reminded of how that which binds us together is far greater than that which pushes us apart.
"For over two hundred years, no matter the differences of opinion on the issues of the day, we have seen a peaceful transfer of power from one Administration to the next. We owe our blessings to those who came before us – great Virginians like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe – to those like Dr. Martin Luther King, who labored in the name of liberty – and to our service men and women who sacrifice to protect our freedoms today. And while it is those before us who paved our way, we must remember that it is our responsibility to preserve this great nation and its opportunities for those who will come after us.
"Part of that responsibility is balancing our budget. That is why the first bill that I have cosponsored in this new Congress is the Balanced Budget Amendment. The fiscal cliff debate was a stark reminder that the 'spend now, cut later,' Washington business as usual is unsustainable and it is time that Washington balances its budget just like families and small businesses across the 5th District do.
"In the coming months, the House remains committed to ensuring that Washington works toward a path of fiscal sustainability. We adopted a measure just last week that suspends pay for members of the House or Senate if they fail to adopt a budget. And as we put forth our own budget, we remain steadfast in our commitment to meaningful deficit reduction that strengthens and preserves our health and retirement programs and pays down our debt.
"While there are different ideas on how to restore economic growth, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike all agree that it is our duty to pass our children a stronger and more prosperous nation than was passed to us, and I look forward to working with the Senate and the President to ensure that we do just that.
"Finally, I am pleased to announce that I will be serving my second term on the House Financial Services Committee. I look forward to serving as Vice Chairman of the Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee. In this role, I will continue to work on behalf of our 5th District family farms, our small businesses, our Main Street banks, and our families as we work to protect the American people from federal over-reach and foster an environment that encourages private investment and job creation.
"Again, thank you for tuning in to our monthly video address. I encourage you to sign up for more frequent updates at our website at hurt.house.gov and at our Facebook page."
If you need any additional information, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, Danville office: (434) 791-2596, or Farmville office: (434) 395-0120.
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