House Speaker John Boehner delivered the weekly Republican address. He said that the House has acted to avert the “fiscal cliff” of automatic tax increases and spending cuts scheduled for January 2013 if Congress does not reach a budget agreement before then and President Obama and his Democratic-controlled Senate now must do the same. He stated, “We will continue to work with our colleagues in the Congress and the White House on a plan that protects families and small businesses.” He also wished all Americans a Merry Christmas.