Rep. Mann Denounces Washington's Fiscal Insanity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to call attention to the nation’s debt. Last month, the national debt reached $36 trillion. Rep. Mann has repeatedly urged Congress to end the fiscal insanity and return to regular order by passing 12 individual appropriation bills. Rep. Mann also urged his colleagues to identify real solutions for the sake of future generations.

Below are Rep. Mann's remarks as prepared for the House Floor:

Mr. Speaker, when I come to this floor, I often speak about how our brightest days are yet to come; about the next generation of Americans; and about the future we should be working to build for them. Currently, the Biden Administration and Washington Democrats’ embrace of fiscal insanity is a stumbling block to reaching that future.

In November, America’s national debt climbed to $36 trillion dollars. Thirty-six trillion. This is not normal. Washington, D.C. has a spending addiction, and it’s just expected that Americans and future generations of Americans will pay for it. Our nation, our children, our future grandchildren, and future great-grandchildren cannot afford for us to continue kicking the can down the road.

Last year, the U.S. Census revealed that the median household income was nearly $80,000. Today, if everyone decided to pitch in and tackle our debt, every American household would need to contribute almost $273,000 to bring our balance to zero. Compare that price tag to the average mortgage in the United States which is about $245,000. Four years ago, our national debt was nearly $28 trillion. Over the course of 1,400 days, the United States accumulated debt at a rate of $68,352 per second. No American family could survive that way, yet year after year, this is what our federal government embraces. This is unsustainable.

If any member of this body had a loved one who was racking up debt at this rate, none of us would encourage them to mindlessly continue their spending habits. We’d do what we could to help them evaluate their spending and get them back on the right track. Yet, only about half of this body seems to care that this is how our federal government spends our tax dollars. Our fiscal house is an utter disaster, and we need to get serious about finding solutions.

Since I was sworn into Congress, I’ve sounded the alarm on our national debt. I’ve opposed bloated spending packages that only focused on funding far-left wish lists. I’ve fought to reduce and reprioritize our federal spending. I’ve challenged this body to think about the blank checks we are writing and ask ourselves, “Is there a way to do this more efficiently?” Those petitions have often been ignored, while Washington sticks to business as normal and spends, spends, spends. Enough is enough. This is not fiscal responsibility, it’s fiscal insanity.

On November 5th, 2024, America made it clear that we no longer want business as usual. It’s time to get our fiscal house in order and get our country back on track.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, President-elect Trump was spot on in creating the Department of Government Efficiency as a perfect gift to our nation and to the next generation of Americans. Mr. President, hear and me loud clear—we will work with you to make our government work for people again; to make it efficient again; and to clean up our fiscal house. Let’s work together to end the federal government’s out-of-control spending once and for all.

This challenge won’t be easy, but America is worth it. The future of our country is worth it. The next generation of Americans are worth it. And I know that we can do it. Our brightest days truly are yet to come.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I yield.

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