Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement today after voting against the Ryan budget, which cuts college loan programs, food stamps, and investments in infrastructure, repeals the Affordable Care Act, and alters Medicare benefits for future retirees while protecting defense spending and refusing to raise a cent in new revenues.

“The budget passed by the House Majority today demonstrates the Republican Party’s upside down priorities. At a time when the United States is spending five times as much on defense as all of our adversaries combined, the Ryan Budget chooses to spend even more. What’s worse, it devastates our educational infrastructure by slashing funding for Head Start, college loan programs, and job training opportunities - the very programs that will help our economy in the long run by turning today’s children into the workers, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow.

“Unfortunately, none of the budget alternatives debated this week put forward a balanced plan that makes immediate investments in our infrastructure and education system, calls for fair revenue increases to tackle our serious fiscal challenges, and confronts our long term issues with mandatory spending – unlike the budget proposal I supported in 2012 based off the principles of the Simpson-Bowles Commission.  Therefore none earned my support. I remain as committed as ever to working across party lines with anyone who believes we must invest in the future of our economy by revitalizing our transportation infrastructure, ensuring every child is getting a world class education, and spurring research and development of new technologies.”