NTU urges all Representatives to vote "YES" on H. Con. Res. 44, the Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution. This common sense, bipartisan legislation would allow Members of Congress and the general public to hear about the federal government’s financial condition each and every year from non-partisan experts at the Government Accountability Office (GAO). We hope these efforts will convince Representatives and Senators of all ideological stripes to urgently address America’s debt and deficit troubles, before the nation reaches a point of fiscal crisis.
After adding more than $5 trillion to the nation’s credit card to respond to the public health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the federal government nearly $29 trillion in debt as of this writing, the time has long since come for lawmakers to urgently address federal spending, debt, and deficit levels. An annual Fiscal State of the Nation would not singlehandedly resolve the debt and deficit challenges our nation faces in the years ahead, but such an address would ensure that Congress and the nation’s taxpayers are updated and informed about the federal government’s financial condition.
Significant adverse economic events such as another economic downturn or national security crisis threaten the economic and fiscal stability of the United States. Too often lawmakers focus on new ways they can spend taxpayer or deficit-financed dollars, or on proposals to significantly expand existing federal programs, without addressing trillion-dollar annual deficits or the projected insolvency of major federal entitlement programs.
A Fiscal State of the Nation address would provide information on all of these urgent matters and more, and H. Con. Res. 44 would ensure that the general public has access to this presentation as well. We urge Members of Congress to support this resolution, and to work on debt and deficit reduction in a bipartisan manner. No plan to significantly reduce deficits will lead to lasting and meaningful reform unless both parties demonstrate to voters that they can work together on these issues. The bipartisan Fiscal State of the Nation resolution is a great start.
Roll call votes on H. Con. Res. 44 will be included in NTU’s annual Rating of Congress and a “YES” vote will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Director of Federal Policy Andrew Lautz at alautz@ntu.org.