WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2009 federal budget conference agreement, S.Con.Res.70. 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 concurrent resolution.
"I am proud to say that we held the line in this compromise budget, ensuring that Democratic priorities aimed at confronting our economic challenges in a fiscally responsible way were preserved," Rep. Becerra said. "Perhaps most importantly, we pay for our priorities without passing on added debt to the next generation."
Like the House resolution passed in March, the bicameral conference agreement adheres strictly to the pay-as-you-go rule, returning the budget to surplus by 2013 without raising taxes. It does so while accommodating relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax for more than 20 million middle class households, and making a number of investments in energy, education, innovation, infrastructure, and support for veterans.
Key investments made by the conference agreement include a deficit-neutral reserve fund for future energy legislation. It also makes significant investments in health care for children and veterans. It provides $50 billion to expand children's health insurance coverage through SCHIP, and rejects the president's proposed fee increases on veterans while providing enough funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs to fully care for 5.8 million patients in 2009, including 333,275 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The priorities of the New Direction Congress can be found in its budget: responsible use of taxpayer money directed at proven programs and investments that stimulate the economy and benefit all Americans," Rep. Becerra said.
Click here for more information on Congress' FY2009 budget resolution.
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