WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Himes release the following statement on his vote in favor of the budget resolution passed by the U.S. House this evening:
Today I voted for a budget that is responsible, honest, and forward-looking. This budget will reduce the national deficit by two-thirds in four years. It will provide tax cuts to five in six of my constituents. Most importantly, after years of neglect, it invests in the very foundations of our future prosperity: a health care system that covers more Americans at lower cost, an energy policy that will create new industries and jobs while cutting our dangerous reliance on foreign oil, and the commitment to radically improve the educations we offer our children. After years of gimmick-laden budgets, this budget factors in the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, necessary financial planning for emergencies like hurricanes, and an honest assessment of the tax structure. I remain concerned with our staggering deficits. In three short months, we have done much to revive an economy devastated by years of irresponsible policy and unacceptable risk. But now is no time to be timid in our efforts to restore the conditions which will allow us and our families to live in prosperity.