Washington, D.C.--Rep. Eliot Engel voted to put America on a plan to cut taxes, cut the deficit, put restraints on spending and make targeted investments in health care, energy and education which will help grow the economy and create jobs.

Rep. Engel said, “This budget is a long-term economic plan that includes targeted investments to create new jobs, help transform our economy with clean American energy, prepare our students for the jobs of the 21st century and reform our health care system to make it affordable for families and help businesses compete.”

The measure passed the House Wednesday by a vote of 233 to 193, and now goes to the Senate.

By passing the budget resolution, he said America “is taking significant steps with this budget resolution to reduce health care costs – one of the largest contributors to the deficit and a drag on American businesses – improve the quality of care and expand coverage, without adding to the deficit. Our long-term economic plan also increases investments in new energy technologies made in America, and lays the groundwork for legislation that will cut pollution and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

The 11-term Congressman praised the budget for its fairness to American families and its fiscal responsibility – cutting taxes on almost all American families and cutting the deficit by nearly two thirds by 2013.

“This budget will make America stronger and give our people more tools to achieve prosperity,” said Rep. Engel. “It will take time to turn our economy around – President Obama inherited one of the worst financial disasters in generations. But this budget is a bold step in the right direction.”

The plan approved by the House ushers in a new era of accountability in budgeting. While the previous administration masked costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and natural disasters to make the deficit appear smaller, President Obama and this Congress are including estimates of these costs for every year in the budget. The budget also reinforces a commitment to statutory pay-as-you-go (or PAYGO) rules, an important tool of fiscal discipline.

Rep. Engel said the plan would save billions of dollars “with new initiatives to root out waste, fraud and abuse by reviewing every dollar spent as we restore accountability after years of contractor abuses, no-bid contracts and irresponsible stewardship. The long-term economic plan the House passed today is an unprecedented step towards securing America and getting us back on the road to prosperity.”