The federal budget process lays out the priorities and framework for federal spending and federal revenue collection.  Every year, Congress decides how much to spend on everything from our military and veterans to school lunch programs and national parks.  As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I fight for funding in the federal budget process that will create a prosperous economy for all Americans and strengthen our country in the decades to come.  My priorities include investments in the areas that matter most to the people of Los Angeles County, including education, healthcare, national security, transportation, job training, and energy and water conservation.
 
Even as some of the country has recovered from the Great Recession, the recovery has been uneven.  Many families in California continue to struggle to make ends meet, and much work remains to be done to help them.  A fair budget can help level the playing field, put millions of Americans back to work, and grow our economy from the bottom up.
 
In recent years, Congress reached agreement on two bipartisan budget deals. While these budgets fell short of what working families need, they were much better than across-the-board budget cuts.  I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach budget agreements in the coming years that create job opportunities and allow every American to flourish.