U.S. Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Patrick Meehan (R-PA) voiced concerns about the budget request submitted to Congress by the Trump administration.
Trump’s budget proposal for 2018 emphasizes national security and public safety. The defense and public safety spending increases are offset by finding greater savings and efficiencies across the federal government and through $54 billion in reductions to non-defense programs.
Comstock said that she supports the increased defense spending outlined in the budget blueprint, but other items outlined in the budget are “inconsistent” with her congressional priorities.
“Congress works on its own budget priorities and appropriates accordingly,” Comstock said. “I support increased defense funding, however, the administration’s proposed cuts to funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH), Chesapeake Bay cleanup and our federal workforce are just a few of the items inconsistent with our priorities. We cannot balance the budget on the backs of our federal employees.”
Lance said the president’s budget acknowledges that the United States taxes and spends too much, and that a plan is needed to tackle the national deficit and national debt as it approaches $20 trillion. However, he does not support every aspect of the budget proposal.
“Congress has worked in a bipartisan fashion to reduce the deficit by nearly $1 trillion, and I agree that we need to keep up that momentum,” Lance said. “But I do not agree with each and every line item. Cutting programs through the Department of Justice and revenue builders like the National Endowment for the Arts are penny wise but pound foolish.”
Lance added, “Congress will have the final say on spending priorities for the nation and I want to reach bipartisan solutions on mandatory spending before our rising debt leads to economic hardship.”
Meehan said the budget request submitted to Congress on Thursday reflects a different set of priorities than those he has set.
“There are some things to like in this budget,” Meehan said. “It includes $500 million in additional funding to combat the opioid crisis. It adds funding for veterans’ health care. It also includes good news for the workers at Boeing’s facility in Delaware County: it replaces a V-22 Osprey lost in combat in Yemen earlier this year.”
But Meehan added that he has some serious concerns about proposals to reduce funding for the NIH, to make significant cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to cut protections for federal lands by 75 percent.
“Ultimately, I expect Congress will take the White House’s request into consideration — but the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse,” Meehan said. “As the budget process continues, I’ll keep on fighting to ensure we’re both making good use of taxpayer dollars and funding the services and programs important to Pennsylvania families.”