Fiscal Responsibility
Over the years, Democrats have shown our commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility by taking actions that have reduced our national deficit while investing in the American people’s priorities. During the 117th Congress, House Democrats delivered the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which will reduce the deficit by over $300 billion while lowering health care and energy costs and taking action on climate change. In sharp contrast, Republicans jammed their 2017 Trump Tax Scam through Congress without a single hearing, gifting trillions of dollars in unpaid-for tax handouts to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations while leaving our nation with ballooning deficits. They have repeatedly held our economy hostage to benefit their irresponsible ideological agenda, whether creating artificial “fiscal cliffs,” shutting down the government, or bringing our nation to the brink of defaulting on its obligations. With other landmark legislation delivered during the 117th Congress, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act, Democrats have worked to invest in economic recovery, job creation, all while cutting the deficit in half last year. Democrats are committed to continuing our work to restore sound, long-term fiscal management so future generations can afford to invest in opportunities, secure the American Dream, and ensure workers have the tools to Make It In America.
The budget resolution introduced today by Senate Republicans represents a brazenly cynical use of the federal budget process to advance the political aim of repealing the Affordable Care Act.
If President-Elect Trump wishes to implement his economic agenda, which nonpartisan budget experts have said would create unprecedented deficits, it is surprising that he would choose someone like Rep. Mick Mulvaney to serve as his budget director.
While I believe the House took the appropriate action today to prevent another unnecessary government shutdown, I believe that passing yet another continuing resolution is not the right approach to funding our government.
Finally, after weeks of negotiation, House Republicans brought a water resources bill to the Floor.
As the Republican-led 114th Congress comes to an end, it’s clear that this Congress has become yet another closed, unproductive, do-nothing Congress.
The nominations of Steven Mnuchin as Treasury Secretary and Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary reveal an incoming administration that is seriously out of touch with working Americans.
I want to thank my friend Rep. Sandy Levin for his service as Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee and, previously, as its Chair.
The report released on Friday by the Treasury Department demonstrates both the enormous progress made under President Obama to bring deficits down as well as the significant challenges that still remain to achieve fiscal sustainability.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics report released this morning demonstrates that the solid pace of our jobs recovery is continuing, with September marking six years of continual job growth.
I’m pleased that Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives reached an agreement this week and passed legislation to avoid a government shutdown.