May, 23, 2023

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden and Members of Congress:

We the undersigned legislators from across the country, in partnership with ALEC Action, the 501(c)4 affiliate of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), support the practical solutions to the debt limit passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in April. The federal debt now exceeds $31.8 trillion, while federal overspending has been at an all-time high over the last two years. The sensible solutions approved by the House two months ago include capping the federal budget at 1% growth annually, rolling back wasteful spending from the Inflation Reduction Act, implementing work requirements for welfare benefits and following through on previously assured permitting reform. These are strong first steps on the long road to federal fiscal recovery.

The federal government would do well to learn from fiscally responsible states like Florida, Arizona, and Utah rather than fiscally irresponsible states like California, Illinois, and New York. Balanced budget amendments exist in 49 of the 50 states, and several have tax and expenditure limits (TELs) such as the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) to restrain spending growth.

With 9.6 million job openings still available, America is still the Land of Opportunity. However, many able-bodied adults receive tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to stay home and not work. Implementing work requirements for welfare benefits is a strong step towards ensuring greater workforce participation while respecting taxpayers who fund our social safety nets.

Additionally, permitting reform is essential for maintaining energy security. Without a permitting process that allows for a clear path to new domestic mining operations, America will remain dependent on other countries for critical minerals that are essential for running our power grid, building new vehicles, and more. Similarly, as oil and gas fields in the United States mature, exploration and utilization of new areas is essential for keeping the lights on. Ensuring the federal bureaucracy cannot arbitrarily delay or deny permits for natural resource utilization will encourage domestic industries to invest in the future of America’s energy security.

The sensible solutions approved by the House are a step toward this type of fiscal responsibility. After the financial hardships and record inflation created by the government response to COVID-19, Congress owes it to the American people to get its fiscal house in order.

Respectfully,