DELAURO OPPOSES RYAN-REPUBLICAN BUDGET

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member of the Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement in reaction to the passage by the House of Representatives of Republican budget for FY2013.

"Chairman Ryan and the House Majority have again put forward a lopsided budget that tries to break the middle class and end the Medicare guarantee – transferring health care costs to our seniors and accelerating a race to the bottom. While preserving oil company subsidies and tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, this deeply flawed budget proposal would decimate our national priorities, K-12 education and college aid, health care for families, and medical research.

Once again, the Republican budget would slash the social safety net. Over ten years, the Republican budget cuts the Food Stamp program by over 17 percent, or $133.5 billion. That is more than the amount of food stamp funds going to 29 states and territories. If this budget becomes law, over eight million men, women, and children may be cut from the rolls and thus go hungry – all so the wealthiest Americans can enjoy an average tax cut of at least $150,000.

We need a balanced approach to deficit reduction that does not balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable, our seniors and the middle class. As critically, we need a budget that creates jobs and economic growth, by making investments in education, infrastructure, job training and innovative research that boosts the middle class and lays the foundation for our small businesses to thrive."