Courtney Touts Budget Request that Undoes Sequestration Cuts

Statement

Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) released the following statement on President Obama's Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal:

"The President's FY 2016 budget proposal demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding economic opportunity for America's middle class, and to building on our economy's progress toward a full recovery. The President rightly recommends that we undo the damaging policy of sequestration that has hindered our economic recovery, and has undermined investments to strengthen America's future competition in a global economy.

"I am particularly pleased to see full restoration of sequester cuts to both domestic and military spending, and I am hopeful that Congress can act on a bipartisan basis to eliminate the mindless cuts looming over the budget. As the newly elected ranking member of the Seapower Subcommittee, I will be working to ensure that our shipbuilding and Naval capabilities are robustly funded, including the construction of the Ohio Replacement submarine fleet--a significant but crucial once-in-a-generation expense. This budget request also includes full 2016 funding for Virginia Class construction, maintaining the two-a-year build rate and continuing development of the Virginia Payload Module, sustaining the critical gains made in southeastern Connecticut's economy.

"Importantly, this budget proposal matches that restoration for our domestic programs, including heating and nutrition assistance and early childhood education, which were hard-hit by sequestration and are crucial for eastern Connecticut families. In support of educating our workforce for the future, President Obama has also proposed increasing the Pell grant to restore its purchasing power for students--as tuition has climbed, Pell has lagged behind for students with financial need.

"By making permanent provisions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, this budget will help give lower income workers the opportunity to step into the middle class. The budget will implement programs to make two years of community college tuition-free for students who maintain good grades and progress toward their degree, strengthening our workforce. Additionally, universal pre-K for young children will set our students on the path to success earlier than ever.

"Restoring investments in the building blocks of our economy--education, manufacturing, and middle class priorities--will help unleash our recovery, create jobs, and ensure economic opportunity for more eastern Connecticut families. I look forward to working on a productive budget process that funds our national priorities in a responsible way."

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