WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the House of Representatives passed the federal budget resolution for fiscal year 2009, H.Con.Res 312. Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Assistant to the Speaker of the House, the only congressional member from Southern California on the Ways and Means Committee, and a member of the Budget Committee, voted for the resolution.
Rep. Becerra praised the House budget for confronting our nation’s economic challenges in a fiscally responsible way.
"Democratic budget priorities seek to help all Americans, particularly those hit by these trying economic times, by returning to fiscal responsibility, putting away the government credit card and finding further ways to help stimulate the economy," Rep. Becerra said.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s analysis of H.Con.Res 312 estimates the House budget will, unlike the president’s proposal, reach balance by 2012 and remain in balance in 2013.
“The House budget before us today moves us toward balance, funds essential health, education, and law enforcement programs, while providing tax relief to the people who need it most – middle class working Americans.”
The House budget provides, among many key investments:
- $7.1 billion more than the president’s budget for education, job training and social services programs for 2009.
- $50 billion to expand the children’s health insurance program (SCHIP) to cover millions of uninsured children.
- $3.6 billion increase in veterans funding, enough for the Veterans Affairs Administration (VA) to treat 5.8 million patients in 2009, including 33,275 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The House budget also accommodates tax relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax for more than 20 million middle class households.
“The pain felt today by America’s working families is a direct result of the misguided economic priorities of President Bush and the previous Republican-controlled Congress,” Rep. Becerra said. “More tax breaks for the wealthy with cuts to education and health care will not bring relief to the American people.”
Funding cuts proposed by the president and rejected by the Democratic budget include:
- $479 billion in cuts to Medicare and $94 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years.
- Cuts to local law enforcement programs including Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Byrne Grants, and the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.
- Cuts to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Community Development Block Grants.
“Today’s budget confronts our pressing economic challenges the right way – investing in the future and meeting the needs of the American people while adhering to the principle of fiscal responsibility,” Rep. Becerra said. “This is a budget of which we can be proud.”
Click here for more information on the House Democratic Budget.