Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Schumer:

Over the past two months, Congress has passed and President Trump has signed into law significant legislation aimed at combating the health impacts of COVID-19 and the economic consequences of the government’s response. In total, this legislative response has resulted in more than $2.5 trillion in new spending.

While there is plenty to debate about the merits of each dollar that has been spent responding to COVID-19 at this point, our organizations are committed to a responsible federal government and are united in our dismay at the ever-escalating debt burden of our country. Outside of spending related to COVID-19, our deficit for this year will surpass $1 trillion and will remain that high or higher for the foreseeable future. It is important to the future of our nation that Congress works to slow our spending and reduce our debt.

Earlier this week, Republican Study Committee Chairman Mike Johnson and Representative Jim Banks, chairman of the RSC Budget and Spending Task Force, sent a letter to congressional leaders calling for offsets to future COVID-19-related spending and for a long-term spending control mechanism. We applaud and add our support to their efforts.

The RSC has long been a voice of fiscal responsibility in Congress. In 2011, at the height of our nation’s focus on out-of-control spending, the RSC developed a three-part plan for lowering spending levels and reducing our debt. Known as “Cut, Cap, and Balance,” their plan heavily influenced congressional leaders and played a large role in pushing Congress to adopt the Budget Control Act. While certainly not at the level of spending control necessary at that time, it had a positive impact on our overall spending for several years.

As our nation’s long term fiscal position erodes precipitously, America urgently needs Congress to once again focus on our nation’s finances. Each of our groups are ready with solutions to assist you with these difficult decisions.

We thank Chairman Johnson, Representative Banks, and the RSC for once again taking a lead on spending restraint. It is encouraging that our elected officials are strengthening their resolve to secure our nation’s future.

Sincerely,

Jessica Anderson
Executive Director
Heritage Action for America

Thomas Schatz
President
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste

Jason Pye
Vice President of Legislative Affairs
FreedomWorks

Tim Andrews
Executive Director
Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Jonathan M. Bydlak
Director, Fiscal & Budget Policy Project
R Street Institute

Grover Norquist
President
Americans for Tax Reform

James Taylor
President
The Heartland Institute

Eunie Smith
President
Eagle Forum

Kevin Roberts, PhD
Executive Director
Texas Public Policy Forum

Carrie Lukas
President
Independent Women’s Forum

Heather R. Higgins
Chief Executive Officer
Independent Women’s Voice

Adam Andrzejewski
CEO/Founder
American Transparency

David Bozell
President
For America

Matt Schlapp
Chairman
American Conservative Union

Brandon Arnold
Executive Vice President
National Taxpayer Union

Lisa B. Nelson
CEO
ALEC Action

Steve Ellis
President
Taxpayers for Common Sense

Bob Carlstom
President
AMAC Action