Rep. Jerry Carl: Congress needs to do its job

Each year, Congress has a duty to pass 12 appropriations bills to fund the government. This spending, which is known as discretionary spending, funds everything from the Department of Defense to our Border Patrol agents. The appropriations process begins each year in the spring. Each of the 12 bills originates in subcommittee, then heads to the entire Appropriations Committee, before ultimately heading to the House Floor. I worked hard to get on the Appropriations Committee so I can have more of a say in how your tax dollars are spent. I was fortunate to get a spot on the committee this year,