Robert Hurt: The path to prosperity

This past week House Republicans continued to take action to bring real change to Washington by passing a long term budget plan for 2012 and beyond, which stops spending money we don’t have, lifts our crushing debt burden, and helps promote job creation.

With $14 trillion in debt, $1.6 trillion in deficit spending, and the fact that we are borrowing over 40 cents on every dollar we spend, it is critical that we begin to take the necessary steps to reduce government spending so that we can tackle our debt, grow the economy, and create jobs for Fifth District Virginians.

Following my vote in favor of the House Republicans’ “Path to Prosperity” budget blueprint, I released the following statement:

By failing to adopt a budget last year, the Democrat Congress allowed Washington’s reckless spending to go unchecked, adding trillions to our debt and deficits. Despite our dire debt crisis, the President’s budget proposal for 2012 continues to put our country on an unsustainable path. It increases our spending and borrowing, nearly doubling our debt over the next decade, imposes $1.5 trillion in new job-destroying taxes on families and small businesses, and fails to take any action to preserve our health and retirement programs.

The House Republican budget proposal, however, is an honest, straightforward, and responsible approach to the serious fiscal challenges that face the 5^{th District and our nation, and leads where both Congressional Democrats and the President have previously and continuously failed.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.}

Delivering on the message sent by Central and Southside Virginians to return fiscal discipline and restraint to Washington, the Republicans’ ‘Path to Prosperity’ budget is an important first step that cuts spending, reduces our debt and deficits, spurs job creation and economic growth, and strengthens and protects our health and retirement programs.

The proposal begins to balance the budget and pay down the debt by cutting $6.2 trillion in government spending and reducing the deficit by $4.4 trillion over the next decade and reining in government spending to 20 percent of the economy by 2017. It repeals and defunds the government takeover of health care and prevents and eliminates trillions in tax increases at a time when the people of the 5th District can least afford it. And it seeks to save our health and retirement programs for both this generation and the next, while ensuring there is no change in benefits for those at or near retirement.

As House Republicans continue to take the necessary steps to get our fiscal house in order to foster a better environment for job growth, it is my hope that all of us in Washington can come together and work to address these important issues so that we can leave our children and grandchildren with an even more prosperous America.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: Continued focus on job creation

This past week in Congress we continued to focus on taking the necessary steps to help foster a better environment for job creation for the people of the Fifth District by shrinking the size and scope of the federal government, reducing unnecessary regulations, working to lower energy costs, and cutting spending.

I was proud to co-sponsor and support H.R. 910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011, which passed the House last week. H.R. 910 permanently prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing a cap-and-trade regulatory agenda under the Clean Air Act.　 Preventing the EPA from implementing a backdoor national energy tax that will raise gas prices for families and small businesses and destroy jobs is just one more action taken by House Republicans to remove the barriers to job growth and get our economy back on track.

In addition to H.R. 910, I signed on as an original co-sponsor of Congressman Goodlatte’s “Virginia Access to Energy Act,” to allow for energy exploration off of the coast of Virginia. I believe that if we want to see sustainable job growth and a long term economic recovery for Central and Southside Virginia and our nation, we must continue to support a comprehensive energy approach that seeks to keep costs low while increasing our domestic supply so that we can achieve true energy independence.

The budgets for both this fiscal year and the next were another focus of Congress this past week. While the last Congress failed to pass a budget, and the current Democrat-controlled Senate and White House remain steadfast in their commitment to maintaining the spending status quo, House Republicans have and will continue to consistently and diligently work to return fiscal discipline and restraint to Washington to help restore certainty to the market place so that our employers will have the confidence necessary to hire and expand.

With our nation facing a $14 trillion debt, $1.6 trillion in deficit spending, and borrowing over 40 cents on every dollar it spends, it is critical that we put an end to the reckless, unchecked　spending that threatens to bankrupt our country and stall our economic growth. I look forward to reviewing the details of the budget proposals as we work to get our fiscal house in order to reduce the debt, grow the economy, and create jobs for all Fifth District Virginians.

If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at http://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.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: Preserving and strengthening Virginia’s agricultural industry

During this past district work week, I traveled to Charlottesville, Danville, South Boston, Altavista, Chatham, Buckingham, and Nelson and talked with constituents there and in the surrounding areas.

I heard from students at the University of Virginia and Danville National College, met with many business leaders across the District, and held several constituent roundtables to discuss the pressing issues that face Central and Southside Virginia.

One of those roundtables was held at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham where, along with Delegate Danny Marshall and Delegate Don Merricks, I had the chance to hear directly from local farmers about matters related to the agricultural industry.

Of the many issues that were raised, there was concern regarding the vast expansion of regulatory agencies and the increase of excessive regulations imposed on agriculture by the federal government, especially the Environmental Protection Agency, that hinder economic growth and stall hiring.

With agriculture remaining the top industry in the Commonwealth, bringing in billions in revenues and providing hundreds of thousands of jobs for Virginians, unnecessary regulations placed on our famers and small businesses by an over-reaching EPA is the last thing we need at a time when we are trying to move our economy forward.

That is why during the recent budget debate, I voted to cut $3 billion out of the EPA’s budget and voted to impose a number of prohibitions on the agency’s authority to implement job-destroying regulations, such as the EPA’s ability to further regulate dust emissions and delaying the EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations.

Additionally, I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 153, which would prohibit any funds at the EPA from being used to implement a Cap and Trade system that would harm our agriculture and manufacturing sectors, destroy over 50,000 jobs in Virginia, and amount to a job-crushing national energy tax when we can least afford it.

The Fifth District’s agricultural communities play a large and important role in producing a wide variety of products that are enjoyed throughout the Commonwealth, and I believe that our farmers and small businesses are truly the backbone of our economy. That is why I remain committed to supporting policies that reduce unnecessary regulations and reduce the size and scope of the federal government so that they can have the confidence and ability to continue to innovate, hire, and expand.

If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, or Danville office: (434) 791-2596.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: America can’t afford inaction

Last year’s Congress failed in their most basic governing responsibility by not passing a budget for the first time since the Congressional Budget Act was adopted in 1974, and what we are currently seeing are the real and negative consequences of allowing reckless government spending to go unchecked.

Our national debt has skyrocketed to over $14 trillion, nearly surpassing the size of the entire U.S. economy.　 And every man, woman, and child’s share of that debt in Central and Southside Virginia now stands at over $45,000.

Our deficit spending has soared to $1.6 trillion, Washington is currently borrowing an average of over $4 billion each and every day, and we are borrowing 40 cents on every dollar we spend.　

Not only does this kind of out of control spending threaten to bankrupt our nation and leave our children and grandchildren with a tremendous burden, it adds a level of uncertainty to the marketplace that stalls our economic recovery and hinders job growth.

That is why the House has acted urgently to deliver on the message so clearly sent by Fifth District Virginians last November that we must put a stop Washington’s spending spree.

Nearly a month ago, the House worked diligently overnight to send the Senate a responsible budget proposal that would fund the government for the rest of this fiscal year while cutting spending by over $100 billion. While this was just a first step, it was a first step in the right direction to begin to put our country on a path of fiscal discipline and restraint.

Unfortunately, the Democrat-controlled Senate has completely failed to take any serious action on this issue, remaining content in continuing the current spending status quo.　 This past week, they opposed the House’s budget proposal and refused to put forth their own spending plan that would make considerable and substantial cuts to the budget given our dire debt crisis.

It is my hope that Congressional Democrats and the Administration will begin to listen to the American people, change course, and join with us in the House as we continue to make the tough choices necessary to get our fiscal house in order to reduce the debt, grow the economy, and create jobs.

With our economic recovery and the future of our country on the line, anything less than serious, bold action is simply unacceptable.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: The future health of our economy depends on affordable energy solutions

While the recent February jobs report issued by the Department of Labor suggests some welcome signs of improvement, our national unemployment rate still remains unacceptably high and our economic recovery still has a long way to go.

The House has taken several steps to remove the barriers to job growth by remaining committed to cutting spending and reducing unnecessary government regulations. Just this past week, the House voted to ease the burden on small businesses by repealing the onerous, job-destroying 1099 provision that was included in the Democrats’ health care law last year.

But at a time when we are trying to move our economy forward, the last thing we can afford is soaring energy costs that directly and negatively affect businesses and families in the 5^{th District and across the country.}

From phone calls, letters, and e-mails to conversations I have had with people in the District, I have heard from many Central and Southside Virginians concerned about the recent rise in gas prices.

This serves as another important reminder that the future health of our economy depends on affordable energy solutions, and it is critical that we look for common sense ways to increase our domestic supply to achieve true energy independence.

I believe that we must support an all-of-the-above energy approach to lower prices, create new American jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, strengthen our national security, and raise revenue to help tackle our $14 trillion national debt.

This approach includes increasing domestic energy production, developing alternative energy sources, and encouraging energy conservation efforts. And as good stewards of our environment, I believe we must ensure that any solutions we employ are done safely.

As Congress begins to craft comprehensive energy legislation to bring down costs for all Americans, it is my hope that the Obama Administration will reverse its decision to block offshore energy development efforts off the coast of Virginia and elsewhere so that we can truly begin to address this issue.

As your representative in Congress, I am committed to finding real solutions to our energy needs that will lessen the economic burden on our businesses and families in the 5th District during these challenging times.

If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at www.hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, or Danville office: (434) 791-2596.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: The Fifth District economy needs the freedom to grow

It was great to be back in Central and Southside Virginia for the past week. I believe that my ability to be a good representative in Congress depends on listening to and hearing from the people across the Fifth District, and this past work week I had the opportunity to meet with a variety of constituents, organizations, and business leaders.

With the economy remaining the number one area of concern for Central and Southside Virginians, I traveled across the district holding business roundtables in Chatham, Bedford, and Farmville and spoke with the local members of the Danville-Pittsylvania County, Halifax County, Martinsville-Henry County, Lynchburg, and Charlottesville Chambers of Commerce.

The input I heard from our employers and employees provided me with critical insight as we continue to work to get our economy back on track.

One of the overwhelming messages I heard was how the expansion of the federal government into the private sector has directly and negatively impacted businesses both small and large in the Fifth District.

Almost every one of our business leaders expressed serious concern about the number of unnecessary, government mandated regulations. Not only do these excessive and burdensome regulations end up costing critical resources in the short term, but the uncertainty of future and pending regulations stops them from being able to adequately plan for the future.

It is clear that our businesses will not have the confidence necessary to expand and create long lasting jobs for Central and Southside Virginians until we reduce the number of onerous government regulations that are injecting an incredible amount of uncertainty into our marketplace.

With this knowledge in hand, our work in Washington becomes even more important as we begin our efforts in committees to identify and eliminate those regulations that are overreaching and adding a tremendous weight and cost on business.

As we seek to put policies in place that will help move our economy forward, I will continue to take with me the important messages I heard this week from our local business leaders and the people throughout the Fifth District.

If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, or Danville office: (434) 791-2596

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the United States House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: The urgent need to cut government spending and reduce government debt

This past week, the House debated HR 1, the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act. This bill would fund the government through September 30th of this year at $100 billion less than the amount President Obama requested in his Fiscal Year 2011 budget.

Given the current fiscal crisis that faces the Fifth District and the nation, I delivered the following remarks on the House floor to discuss the urgent need to cut government spending and reduce government debt:

Last year, our President and our Congress failed to enact a budget. This fundamental failure of leadership has put our country on a path of skyrocketing debt, growing deficits, and unacceptably high unemployment.

The President has now submitted to this new Congress a new budget proposal. Instead of recognizing the urgent need to reduce spending and reduce our debt, the President’s budget proposal amounts to, yet again, a failure of leadership.

It is a budget predicated on unsustainable deficit spending and insurmountable debt that will be passed on to our children and to our grandchildren.

Our deficit is projected to reach an all time high of 1.6 trillion dollars. And our national debt is projected to equal the size of the entire U.S. economy, reaching over 15 trillion dollars by September 30^{th of this year.}

And for 21 straight months, our national unemployment rate has been at 9 percent or higher—the country’s longest jobless streak since the Great Depression.

The people of my District – Virginia’s Fifth District – and the people of our nation know this course is unsustainable and that it must stop.

Enough is enough.

It is time to chart a new course of fiscal discipline and restraint.

It is time to act on the urgent message sent by the people in November that we must put an end to Washington’s reckless spending.

No longer should the people of the 5th District be stuck to foot the bill for a growing and intrusive federal government.

No longer should families and businesses in Central and Southside Virginia be the ones making the tough choices to live within their means while the federal government borrows 40 cents on every dollar it spends.

By making tough choices and by reducing government spending, we are taking the first step in tackling our unsustainable debt and in preserving our economic strength for future generations.

By reducing spending we are restoring a sense of certainty and confidence to the market place that will create a better environment for job creation.

By reducing spending we are reducing the size and scope of the federal government and are empowering our true job creators to hire, innovate, and expand.

The decisions we face are not easy. But we have not been given an easy task. Now is the time to act and to act boldly if we are serious about leaving a better America for our children and our grandchildren.

Editor’s Note: At the time of distribution, the Continuing Resolution was still being debated in the House of Representatives. The outcome of the final legislation is to be determined.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the United States House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: Charting a new course of fiscal discipline and restraint

Next week, President Obama will release his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012. It is my hope that the proposal will reflect the clear message sent by the people on Election Day, that in order to create jobs and grow the economy we must get our fiscal house in order.

Unfortunately, the Administration’s initial suggestions to freeze spending at current levels, combined with its continued commitment to more failed stimulus-style spending, eludes the real kind of change that needs to take place in Washington.

With our national debt soaring past $14 trillion and our deficit reaching nearly $1.5 trillion, freezing spending at an artificially high and accelerated level is not enough.

And with unemployment continuing to remain at an unacceptable rate, the last thing we need is more government spending, more taxing, and more borrowing.

To truly turn our economy around, we need a renewed commitment to the kinds of policies that will inject a level of certainty into our economy that will give our job creators the confidence necessary to hire and expand once again.

Reining in government spending and returning to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, reducing unnecessary regulations, and forcing our government to live within its means by passing a balanced budget amendment are all steps in the right direction.

The actions next week in the House will seek to continue to move our economy forward as we chart a new course of fiscal discipline and restraint.

For the first time in years, the House will debate cutting government spending rather than increasing it as we initiate the consideration of a budget proposal for the remaining seven months of this fiscal year.

This historic bill stands in direct contrast to last year’s Congress, which failed to propose or even pass a budget, allowing government spending to go unchecked and putting us on an unsustainable path that threatens the economic outlook of our country.

As I review the proposal and amendments put forth in the House, and with the future of our nation at stake, I remain fully committed to delivering on my promise to the people of the Fifth District to cut spending to reduce our debt, create jobs, and grow the economy.

If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at www.hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, or Danville office: (434) 791-2596.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the United States House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: Jobs remain a top priority

It was great to spend the entire week in the Fifth District. After meeting with and hearing from many constituents, local leaders, and businesses, it became clear that job creation remains the top priority for Central and Southside Virginians.

Getting the chance to visit several different businesses in the district and directly asking our employers for their input about what they need to grow and succeed, provided me with helpful insight when it comes to finding ways to ensure and promote a long-lasting economic recovery.

It became even clearer that in order for businesses to expand and create sustainable private sector jobs, we must remain diligent in supporting policies that reduce unnecessary government intervention and regulation.

As I saw this week, nothing is more crushing to the entrepreneurial spirit than excessive regulations that overburden and stifle our true job creators.

In many respects, if the government gets out of the way, businesses will thrive, people will innovate, and we will be able to provide for the next generation.

That is why I am looking forward to our upcoming work on the Financial Services Committee as well as in the full House, both of which will have a direct impact on job creation for the people of the 5^{th District.}

The Financial Services Committee will exercise aggressive oversight throughout the implementation of the Dodd-Frank bill to ensure that a regulatory balance is struck that will not place unreasonable burdens on business and reduce access to credit.

And next week in the House we will begin the process of reviewing some of the onerous regulations that are in place that hinder job creation and stall economic growth.

This is just one more way that we can work to get our economy back on track as we continue to cut spending, keep taxes low, and get our fiscal house in order so that our children and grandchildren will inherit an even more prosperous America.

If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, or Danville office: (434) 791-2596.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the United States House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: Cutting government spending to create jobs and grow the economy

This week, President Obama gave his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. It was encouraging to hear the President focus on the pressing need to get our fiscal house in order. Where there is room for consensus on these important issues that affect job creation, I look forward to working with President Obama and my colleagues to put those policies into place that will help move the economy forward for all Fifth District Virginians.

It was disappointing, however, to hear the President renew his commitment to pursue more stimulus-style government spending.

The President’s call for more spending ignores the message sent by voters on Election Day, and it stands in stark contrast to the immediate actions taken by the House that seek to create jobs and repair our economic outlook by putting an end to Washington’s reckless spending spree.

As the failed trillion dollar stimulus proved, increased government spending did not create the millions of jobs promised and only added to our record-breaking deficits and over $14 trillion in debt. The new projection that this year’s deficit will reach nearly $1.5 million only reinforces the need to cut up Washington’s credit cards once and for all.

That is why I have been proud to support many measures that have come before the House that will rein in out of control government spending and help put Central and Southside Virginia on a true path towards a long-lasting economy recovery.

Those measures include voting to cut non-security discretionary government spending back to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels and voting to repeal the budget-busting government takeover of health care, cutting $2.6 trillion over ten years and reducing the deficit by $700 billion. The House has also voted to cut Congressional budgets, to end the wasteful mandatory printing of bills, and to end the taxpayer funding of presidential election campaigns and party conventions, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Additionally, I have signed on as an original co-sponsor to a balanced budget amendment that would force Washington to learn to live within its means so we don’t saddle future generations with even more insurmountable, crippling debt.

While this is only the beginning and there are many tough decisions ahead, supporting legislation that helps create jobs and grow our economy has been a top priority for me in this first month, and it will continue to be throughout my two years as your representative in Congress.

If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, or Danville office: (434) 791-2596.

Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robert Hurt: Moving forward together

This was a somber week in Congress as the House passed a resolution to honor the victims of the tragedy in Tucson.

I was deeply saddened and disturbed by the senseless attacks on Representative Giffords, members of her staff, and all of the victims in Tucson, Arizona. Our prayers are for speedy and full recoveries for those who are still in critical condition as well as for everyone who was affected by this horrific act of violence in some way.

This kind of violence has no place in our society, and I am committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of my staff and constituents. But in order to demonstrate the strength of our democracy, we cannot let this attack deter us from fulfilling our most important duty: serving the people we were elected to represent.

The direct relationship between constituents and the people who represent them is fundamental, inalterable, and is the very underpinning of our free society. It is critical that we, as elected officials, make time to meet with and listen to the people of our Districts to learn their thoughts on the important issues facing Congress and our nation.

Constituent services has been a top priority for me throughout my time in public service, and it will continue to be as I represent the Fifth District in Washington, D.C. Nothing is more important than ensuring that I remain accessible and available to the people of Central and Southside Virginia.

Over the next two years, I look forward to talking to and hearing from Fifth District Virginians across the political spectrum as we work together to find real and lasting solutions to the immediate problems that affect our present and our future: unacceptable unemployment, reckless government spending, and an ever-expanding federal government.

I encourage you to visit our website at hurt.house.gov, where you can get congressional updates, sign up for our newsletter, send me an e-mail, and find our office contact information.

Nothing shows our resolve and our faith in our representative democracy more than continuing to serve the public despite trying and difficult circumstances. That is why it is important for Congress to get back to work, and next week the House will resume the thoughtful consideration of the health care bill.

There is a lot to be done, and we have many tough challenges ahead, but I am confident that together we can change course and move the Fifth District and our nation forward.

Column by Fifth District Congressman Robert Hurt