Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Al Green voted in favor of S. Con. Res. 13, Congress’ 2009 budget resolution, which passed the House of Representatives by a 233-193 vote.  This budget resolution will build on the initial steps taken to restore the economy that were made earlier this year with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It also achieves the four priorities that President Obama established for the budget, by providing an outline for health care reform, investing in our education system, moving our nation toward energy independence, and cutting the deficit by nearly two-thirds by the end of President Obama’s first term.

Congress’ budget resolution addresses the need for heath care reform by addressing the rising cost of health insurance, aiming to improve the quality of health care, and establishing a framework to provide health care coverage to the 46 million Americans currently lacking it.

The budget resolution also addresses the urgent need for increased investment in education by raising the maximum Pell grant award to help low-income high school graduates attend college, strengthening and expanding early childhood education programs, and investing in educational services that will increase student achievement.

The budget also continues support for the goal of achieving energy independence by investing in American-made renewable energy, which will create new green collar jobs, as well as by increasing funding for new green technology and energy efficiency.

“I was proud to support this budget,” said Congressman Green.  “This budget will get our economy moving again, without losing sight of the long-term challenges that our country faces, such as achieving quality, universal health care, securing our energy independence, providing our children with quality education that is unparalleled elsewhere, and getting our budget deficit under control.  Most importantly, this budget invests in America’s future to ensure that we will remain a shining light that continually leads the world toward a brighter future.”

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