Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after Republicans decided not to bring their budget reconciliation bill to the House floor for a vote today after it became clear that they did not have enough votes to pass the bill:

“The budget reconciliation bill that Republicans tried to bring to the floor today represented a direct assault on hungry kids, senior citizens and working poor families in Washington state and across the country.

“Their budget bill would have cut Medicaid and food assistance for some of the neediest Americans while giving more tax breaks to some of the wealthiest Americans.

“Democrats remain united against any attempts to hurt those who need help the most with cuts to student loans, health care, and food assistance for hungry kids.

“When it became clear that Republicans could not pass this bad budget bill, they refused to bring it up for a vote.

“I encourage Republican leaders to bring us a budget bill that moves us forward, not backward.”

Nearly 12 percent of Washington residents and 14 percent of our state’s children live in poverty. The most recent numbers showed that 12 percent of Washington families were food insecure. And during fiscal year 2004, more than 485,000 people in Washington state received food stamps each month. In July of this year, that number was over 513,000.

In August, Larsen joined with the Children’s Alliance, the Washington Food Coalition and the Volunteers of America Western Washington to speak out against the federal funding cuts to anti-hunger and nutrition efforts included in the Republican budget reconciliation bill.

Larsen represents Washington’s 2nd Congressional District and is the only member from the state serving on the House Agriculture Committee.