Federal Budget

Our federal budget should reflect our national priorities and values. In my view, that means that we’re supporting our troops and protecting our country, positioning the next generation to thrive, making sure that our veterans and seniors receive the benefits they deserve.

On budget matters, rather than careening from fiscal crisis to fiscal crisis, Congress should focus on passing a grand budget deal that reduces the deficit in a balanced way.  We should do our job, which is to come together, negotiate in good faith, and find a solution. I support a balanced approach that fundamentally changes our fiscal trajectory and reduces our debt. In my role as a Freshman Class President, I hosted a bipartisan member briefing with Simpson and Bowles, and believe their balanced, data-driven, approach should be emulated in Congress.

In my view, the recent budgets offered by Congressman Ryan and supported by the majority in Congress are wrong for the country. I believe Democrats should lead on deficit reduction and entitlement reform and we should continue to reach across the aisle and push for a grand bargain budget deal along the lines of Simpson-Bowles.

Smart budgets include investments in the future, including proper support for education and job training, science and research, alternative energy, and infrastructure. The budget alternative authored by Rep. Van Hollen presented a better path. Our budget should be oriented towards positioning our country for the next century. Support for federal workers is critical: we can’t expect our federal government to be world-class by marginalizing its employees year after year.