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Restores Fiscal Responsibility, Reject Harmful Cuts & Strengthens the Economy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Watch Congressman Hoyer's floor statement here WASHINGTON, D.C - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) and the House of Representatives voted today to approve the Fiscal Year 2009 Democratic House Budget that continues the 110th Congress's commitment to fiscal responsibility and reflects the priorities important to the people of Maryland. The budget makes investments in energy, education, and infrastructure; provides tax relief for the middle class; keeps our promise to our veterans; and balances the budget in five years. Rep. Hoyer was instrumental in shepherding the budget through the House and in negotiating a final resolution with Senate leaders. "This is a budget that meets the critical needs of our people, making investments to keep America safe, to boost economic growth and create jobs, to provide tax relief, and to help families struggling in the Bush economy," stated Rep. Hoyer. "I am proud of this fiscally responsible budget and strongly believe it reflects the priorities of citizens across this country and in my state of Maryland." "Furthermore, this is the first budget adopted in an election year since 2000 - an accomplishment that I believe is a demonstration of this Congress's ability to govern effectively." The Democratic budget: - Restores fiscal responsibility and 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.
- Responds to soaring energy costs by helping promote renewable energy, clean fuel technology, and energy efficiency, and restoring President's cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
- 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.
- Fulfills our promise to our nation's veterans, increasing funding for veterans health care by $3.7 billion
- Strengthens our economy with investments in education and innovation that will generate economic growth and jobs, make college more affordable, improve student achievement, and reverse the Bush Administration's under-funding of education.
- Supports key health care initiatives, including Medicare and Medicaid, children's health insurance and health information technology.
- Invests in our nation's infrastructure, repairing crumbling roads, bridges, transit, airports, and schools.
- Makes America safer by providing robust funding for national defense and ensuring that resources are available to address the most critical threats facing the nation. It 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.
Click here for the Majority Leader's Budget Clearinghouse, including fact sheets on the five key features of the budget, statements from outside groups in support of the budget, a fact sheet on false Republican claims about the budget, and other important information. ###
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