"We were pleased to welcome President Obama to the People's House tonight for his annual address to the nation. I believe the President is sincere in his desire to strengthen our economy, and that is why I am looking forward to him joining Republicans in our efforts to end the Democrats' job-destroying spending spree.
"We have a fundamental choice to make: will we embrace more government interference in our lives or empower the people to make their own decisions?
"The American people sent a message last Fall demanding that Washington end its out-of-control spending and focus on job creation. House Republicans pledged to America that we would accomplish these goals, and in the first weeks of the new Congress, we have already taken action to fulfill this pledge.
"We have worked to cut spending by voting to repeal Obamacare, which would save taxpayers $2.6trillion, immediately cutting Congress' own budget by 5 percent, and eliminating millions of dollars in wasteful and unnecessary spending at the Government Printing Office.
"Today, the House voted to roll back government funding to the 2008 levels or lower – before the expensive and unsuccessful taxpayer-funded bailouts and stimulus programs were put into place.
"If we've learned anything over the last two years, it's that we cannot spend our way to prosperity. We will help create jobs by stopping the out-of-control spending, shrinking the size of government, and reducing government-manufactured barriers that make it harder for job creators to compete in the global marketplace.
"At the end of the day, I believe that we all want what's best for our nation: a safe and secure future for our children and grandchildren. We need to ensure that they have opportunities for good jobs, access to quality healthcare, and security for their families. This future is only possible if we make tough decisions today, rather than kicking the can down the road. I'm committed to working for a bright future for our country, and I'm hoping the President and my colleagues from across the aisle will join us."
