At this moment, there is no official word on an agreement.

“I am continuing to work with my colleagues to support a bill that prevents our nation’s default while, at the same time, upholding my constituents’ collective desire to take important steps to finally cut spending and get our fiscal house in order,” Jim said.

With that in mind, we wanted to recap how the House has demonstrated a serious commitment to avoiding default.

On Friday night, Jim helped the House pass the proposed Budget Control Act. This plan would have ensured that any increase in the debt ceiling would have been balanced by an even greater reduction in federal spending.

“This legislation incorporates the key elements that a majority of my constituents have said are important to them. The United States will continue paying its bills on time — just like families and small businesses must do each month. And the House makes a serious commitment to eliminating $3 trillion in wasteful Washington spending,” Jim said. You can read the rest of his statement here.

The legislation passed the House by a 218-210 margin, but the Senate voted to table the bill.

First, Jim helped the House pass H.R. 2560, the proposed Cut, Cap and Balance Act, by a 234-190 margin.

“I supported the Cut, Cap and Balance legislation because constituents in my District and across the country are demanding that Washington live within its means and stop the spending-driven debt crisis forcing us to borrow 40 cents of every dollar the federal government spends,” Jim said. ”The legislation charts a responsible course for restoring much-needed fiscal sanity and making everyone in Washington more accountable to families, seniors, small business owners and all taxpayers.”

Read Jim’s full statement on the legislation and find out more about Cut, Cap and Balance here.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate failed to allow a vote on Cut, Cap and Balance.

Jim votes to shrink House budget

Jim voted in favor of cutting the amount each member of the House spends on office supplies, rent, salaries and other expenses by 6.5 percent in the 2012 Fiscal Year that begins Oct. 1.

H.R. 2551 would provide $1.22 billion for the House of Representatives, a reduction of $84.7 million or 6.5 percent below Fiscal Year 2011 and $107 million or 8 percent below the President’s budget proposal.

The legislation passed by a 252-159 margin and goes to the Senate for consideration.

“The House understands it needs to make the same tough choices that so many families and small business owners have made in this economy,” Jim said. “I believe this proposed budget would allow lawmakers to work more efficiently while continuing to effectively serve our constituents.”

According to the Committee on Appropriations, since January 2011, the spending overseen by the Legislative Branch Subcommittee has been cut by 9 percent from Fiscal Year 2010 spending levels. This marks the largest-ever, two-year reduction for this bill, $329 million in total.”

Gerlach, Main Line Animal Rescue step up push to combat puppy mills

More than 150 people showed up on a muggy Monday night at Main Line Animal Rescue to demonstrate their support for continuing the fight against puppy mills.

Jim highlighted his work to enact H.R. 835, the proposed Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act, which would close a loophole in the federal Animal Welfare Act used by puppy mill operators to evade reasonable regulations and standards for the humane treatment of dogs.

“This bipartisan legislation is long overdue and necessary to end the horrific conditions and inhumane treatment of dogs at large breeding kennels here in Pennsylvania and throughout the country,” Jim said. “In addition to keeping dogs confined to cramped cages, puppy mill owners often profit by selling sick animals to unsuspecting consumers.”

CBS-21 TV of York interviewed Jim and Bill Smith of Main Line Animal Rescue about the legislation as part of their special investigative report on puppy mills. Watch the interviews with Jim and Bill here.

The proposed PUPS Act would make the following changes to the Animal Welfare Act:

• All dog breeders who sell more than 50 puppies per year directly to the public will be federally licensed and inspected.
• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise for 60 minutes a day.
• The bill will not affect small breeders and hobby breeders who sell fewer than 50 dogs per year directly to the public, but is crafted to cover only large commercial breeding facilities.