Washington, DC — Congressman Charles Djou (HI-01) gave the following speech from the floor of the U.S. House calling on Congress to get to work and pass a budget:

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“Mr. Speaker, last month, I left the Honolulu City Council and had the great honor of entering this chamber of the United States House of Representatives.

“Last week, my former chamber, the Honolulu City Council, passed its annual budget. The budget was $3.5 billion. My position is that the Honolulu City Council’s budget passed last week was too big, increased taxes by too much, and increased the government’s size by far more than the citizens of the city and county of Honolulu could afford.

“But at least the City and County of Honolulu passed a budget.“

It was $3.5 billion; the federal government will spend that much money in about five minutes.

“Here today, in mid-June, the United States Congress still has yet to pass a budget. If the Honolulu City Council, which I just departed, can pass a budget for $3.5 billion—which the federal government will spend in just a few minutes—it is the responsibility of our government here in the United States Congress to pass a budget.

“We’re spending far too much money. Even worse than that, we’re spending far too much money on programs that aren’t working. And even worse than that, we have no plan to pay it back.

“Let’s get to work. Let’s pass a budget.

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”

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Congressman Djou was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives three weeks ago and serves on the House Budget Committee. Congressman Djou has never voted for a tax increase and will continue to forcefully advocate that the United States Government get its fiscal house in order.