RSC Chairman Mark Walker on Harvey Aid/ Debt Ceiling Package

September 4, 2017

WASHINGTON - Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Rep. Mark Walker (NC-06) released the following statement in response to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin calling to attach aid for Hurricane Harvey to raising the debt ceiling:

"What happened in Texas is a tragedy and it needs an urgent Congressional response. Congress is united behind this effort, but I worry about jeopardizing an agreement with such legislative games. Our obligation is to assist those impacted by this great flood, but it's past time the swamp waters in DC begin receding as well. That starts with being both compassionate and fiscally responsible. These two principles are not at odds.
"As we have stated for months, the debt ceiling should be paired with significant fiscal and structural reforms. The alarming trajectory of our debt imperils all supplemental appropriations for dealing with disasters like Harvey in the future. If we resort to just kicking the can down the road on the debt, it only shows that Republicans do not take the problem of our $20 trillion debt seriously. Republicans passed spending reforms with Barack Obama as president. We have no excuse why we can't do it now with Republican leadership."

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