House Approves Budget Conference Report

HOUSE APPROVES BUDGET CONFERENCE REPORT

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) voted for the budget conference report, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 214 to 210. The budget reverses the President's harmful cuts to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The approved budget increases funding for energy, education, infrastructure and housing, while providing tax relief for the middle class and balancing the budget in five years. The conference report passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.

"The Democratic budget rejects the failed fiscal policies of the Bush Administration by providing increased funding for vital domestic programs within a fiscally responsible framework,... said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). "While more must be done to reverse the damage done by the Bush budgets, the Democratic budget begins the process of recovery by putting our country on a sound fiscal and economic path. Our budget will help Americans who are struggling to make ends meet by making college more affordable, investing in new businesses, creating new jobs and providing tax cuts for middle income families....

The Democratic budget conference report:

• rejects President Bush's cuts to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, the Community Development Block Grant program, and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program.

• responds to soaring energy costs by helping promote renewable energy, clean fuel technology, and energy efficiency.

• makes education and innovation investments that will generate economic growth and jobs, make college more affordable, improve student achievement, and reverse the Bush Administration's under-funding of education.

• invests in our nation's infrastructure — repairing crumbling roads, bridges, transit, airports, and schools.

• ensures that veterans get the quality health care they need and deserve. It also protects the homeland and rejects the President's cuts in law enforcement, the COPS program, firefighters, and other first responders.

• provides significant tax relief, including extension of marriage penalty relief, the child tax credit, and the 10 percent bracket, as well as allowing for estate tax reform. It includes an additional year of Alternative Minimum Tax relief. And it provides for property tax relief, energy and education tax relief, and extenders.

• rejects the failed fiscal policies of the Bush Administration. It returns the budget to balance — reaching a surplus of $22 billion in 2012 and $10 billion in 2013.