Rep. Becerra Votes for Budget that Makes Stategic Investments to Strengthen the Economy

March 26, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, the House Budget Committee debated and voted to favorably report a responsible 2010 budget resolution that embraces President Obama's vision and key priorities. Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a member of the Budget Committee, voted for the resolution and released the following statement:

“Faced with the difficult task of digging us out of the Bush deficits while investing in our long-term economic strength, President Obama and Chairman Spratt put together a solid plan that moves us in a new and better direction. The House budget incorporates the president's four major priorities—investing in health care, clean energy and education, while cutting the deficit in half by 2013. The priorities and tough choices made in this budget build on our ongoing efforts to bring our economy out of recession, into recovery and on to a prosperous future for American families.

“This budget also tells the truth, an element that was missing from the budgets proposed by the previous administration which hid the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, we take into account the full scope of the challenges we face, and we confront them head-on. Our fiscal problems cannot be fixed overnight, but with the House budget and the president's leadership we are on the right path.”

The House Budget voted out of committee last night cuts the deficit by two-thirds by 2013. It reduces non-defense discretionary spending by 1.5% from the President's budget blueprint, but still provides for an increase at the rate of inflation plus 2% to make up for years of failure to invest in our global competitiveness. It takes steps to expand health care coverage while reducing health care costs, one of the largest contributors to the deficit, and a growing burden on our businesses' ability to compete and families' prosperity.

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BECERRA.HOUSE.GOV

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