At today's House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) promoted DOGE and the GOP reconciliation package.
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00:00Gentleman yields back. I now recognize to speak on the ANS, Ms. Luna from Florida.
00:08Thank you, Chairman. First of all, I'm extremely proud to have this reconciliation package being marked up today.
00:15And I'd like to say that the language placed in Section 90004 of this package specifically is a provision that I contributed to in the reconciliation package.
00:24And it's not about ideology. It's about the budgetary responsibility of protecting American taxpayers from spiraling entitlement costs tied to the federal workforce.
00:34So first and foremost, for those of you who have maybe ever served, there was a point in time when the military had the option of and new incoming troops had the option of actually adopting the new retirement program.
00:45So instead of just being 20 years automatic retirement, it shifted to something like a 401k.
00:48What this provision specifically allows is for new hires to either opt into a traditional first protections, where they have the option of increasing their personal contribution by 5%, or if they choose not to, having access to more cost-efficient personal track.
01:07That's important because a lot of people are saying that this is somehow going to impact the current retirement system, and that's simply not the case.
01:13This structure is going to incentivize and create actuary beneficial dynamic changes for the Treasury, allowing the CBO to reduce the deficit by over $4.5 billion over the next decade.
01:26So I understand everyone here is representing their districts, their constituents, and what I can tell you is first and foremost, it's really important that the facts and the evidence is out there.
01:34We are not trying to attack people's retirements. In fact, we're doing quite the opposite.
01:37And if you have a runaway train of debt, ultimately understand that that can impact everything from Social Security to these retirement packages.
01:46So we have to be fiscally responsible. Thank you, Chairman.
01:50And I will also say this. Unfortunately, right now, because of the amount of, I think, partisanship in regard to this topic, I think a lot of people are genuinely scared about DOGE.
02:02And the fact is, is that DOGE is actually doing right by all of the American people by ensuring that future programs, future generations are not left on the fiscal hook of debt, but also to have the opportunity and access to the American dream.
02:15So I understand what everyone's here is trying to do in regards to their constituencies, but it's very important that we have those facts out there.
02:22So thank you, Chairman. I yield this time, and I urge all of my colleagues not just to support this amendment, but also to support this reconciliation package.