U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, cast his vote in support of a federal budget conference report Thursday that strengthens our national security and honors his pledge to West Virginia's brave troops and veterans, while also supporting West Virginia's hard-working families and strengthening our economy.

"After six years of budgets that have failed to sufficiently address some of our most pressing security needs, the Democratic Congress has passed a budget that provides the necessary resources to meet critical threats to our Nation and I am proud to cast my vote for this fiscally responsible budget that is in line with the priorities of West Virginians," Rahall said.

The budget passed Thursday rejected cuts to vital first responder and terrorism prevention programs included in the President's budget.

Under the President's budget, the State Homeland Security Grant Program-which awarded $61 million to West Virginia between 2003 and 2006-would have been slashed by 52 percent. The President's proposal would have eliminated the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) program and Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program. COPS helps West Virginia's law enforcement agencies hire police officers, enhance crime fighting technology, and support crime prevention initiatives, while JAG supports state and local drug task forces, community crime prevention programs and prosecution initiatives. In 2006, West Virginia received $2.1 million in JAG funding and $5.4 million in COPS funding that it used to keep neighborhoods safer for West Virginia families.

"Fully funding these vital programs is critical to our communities," Rahall said. "As I have said before, homeland security begins with hometown security and these programs play a huge role."

In addition, the House budget provides the largest increase for veterans' health care in the history of our country - providing $3.6 billion more than the President's budget, helping to ensure that the more than 200,000 veterans in West Virginia receive care worthy of their sacrifice. This funding level is consistent with the recommendations of the Independent Budget for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

"This funding will go a long way toward giving our veterans the benefits they deserve, but our work is far from over," Rahall said. "I remain vigilant in working with my colleagues and the President to find a solution to Iraq and to ensuring that once we bring our troops home, they receive the care to which they are entitled."

In the area of transportation, the bill fully funds the highway, safety and transit programs authorized in the 2005 highway bill, which includes a number of West Virginia projects, including Route 10, the King Coal Highway, Coalfields Expressway, Beckley Intermodal Gateway, New River Parkway and the Shawnee Parkway. Among other transportation programs, the conference agreement provides $1.8 billion for Amtrak.

"Keeping the dirt flying on these projects and the Amtrak engines chugging along are key to the continued economic progress we are seeing in southern West Virginia," Rahall said. "The is one of the best investments we can make."

The budget also puts West Virginia's children and families first, by increasing funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and by providing $7.5 billion more for education and training than the President's budget, including increases to No Child Left Behind and Head Start.

"In short, after years of rising deficits and national debt, this budget finally puts us on the right course," Rahall said. "By instituting pay-as-you-go budgeting, launching initiatives to root out wasteful spending, and making key investments in West Virginia's top priorities, this budget is a step in the right direction for all of West Virginia's families."