Hoyer: Republicans' Budget Conference Report Disinvests in America

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement on the budget conference report introduced by Republicans today:

“The budget conference report written by House and Senate Republicans is further proof of Republicans’ commitment to a severe and unworkable policy agenda that disinvests in America.  It is built around a centerpiece of using fast-track reconciliation procedures to repeal the Affordable Care Act.  It once again eliminates the Medicare guarantee, turns Medicaid into a capped block grant, reduces Pell Grants, and cuts nutrition assistance.  Though it exempts defense spending from sequestration through an accounting sleight-of-hand, it enshrines sequester level spending for non-defense priorities this year and further disinvests in these priorities by cutting $496 billion below sequester levels over the next decade. 

“I am confident that neither the House nor the American people will ever see this budget implemented as written.  I urge Republicans to set their sequester strategy aside and instead work with Democrats to replace sequestration with an alternative that enables Congress to invest in America’s long-term growth and prosperity.”