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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted last night against the House Republican budget - H.Con.Res 376 (Concurrent Resolution on the Budget) for Fiscal Year 2007. The resolution passed by a vote of 218 to 210.
Larsen released the following statement on his vote:
“Congress has an obligation to create a federal budget that reflects the values and beliefs of our nation. Today, the Republicans handed us a budget that is fiscally reckless and fails to protect vulnerable children and families in our communities.
“Congress cannot continue to cut the legs out from under the dinner table of those who are hungry. In a country where 12 million children go to bed hungry every night, we have a responsibility to care for and provide these children hope.
“This budget eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program which provides nutritious food packages to 470,000 low income seniors, mothers and children. It terminates the Hope VI program, which transforms distressed public housing projects into healthy mixed-income neighborhoods. And, over the next five years, this budget falls $4.3 billion short of the funding level that is needed to sustain the current services of community and regional development programs such as Community and Development Block Grants.
“Congress should pass a budget that strengthens food and nutrition programs for families and children and provides adequate housing opportunities for working Americans.
“Furthermore, I do not believe a budget that cuts veterans’ health care and taxes military retirees reflects American values.
“I voted against the budget resolution because it cuts veterans’ health care by $6 billion over the next 5 years, and increases TRICARE health care premiums for more than 3 million military retirees and their families.
“We must not cut and run from veterans and their healthcare.
“At a time when Americans are hungry for hope, this budget fails to feed hope to those who need it most – our veterans, hungry children, and working families. I will continue to fight for a morally and fiscally responsible budget that better represents the values of Americans and the people of Washington state’s 2nd Congressional district.”
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