WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the White House released its topline budget blueprint for fiscal year 2024, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement:

“Working families are counting on President Biden and he came through for them in a big way with this budget.

“This is a fiscally responsible blueprint that puts families and taxpayers first.  It would support sustainable economic growth while reducing the deficit and lowering costs for working families.  On the defense side of the ledger, President Biden has put forth a muscular topline defense budget to keep America safe and strong.

“President Biden is directing more resources to keeping Americans safe, improving our schools, making college more affordable, supporting seniors and veterans, lowering the costs of child care and health care, increasing the supply of affordable housing, and expanding opportunity.  Notably, this budget keeps President Biden’s promise to extend the life of Medicare by another twenty-five years and will help responsibly strengthen Social Security.

“The President’s budget takes a balanced approach that is responsibly paid for and meets the needs of our military, their families and communities, and heavily invests in the progress and promise of America.

“President Biden pays for these priorities by insisting that large corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share and dedicates $3 trillion to deficit reduction.  Any tax provisions in this bill are targeted at those making at least $400,000.

“This is just the first step in the budget process.  The next step is for the Administration to transmit the final budget details to Congress so both the House and Senate can review, debate, refine, and vote to pass a budget.

“That means House Republicans can’t just sit back and complain.  Just like the President, they need to put forward a written plan and show the American people where they stand.  House Republicans have already mentioned plans to cut health care and undercut people’s retirement security.  People will finally see what other essential services they want to cut and what the costs to working families will be.

“I urge House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to show America his plan so that we can strengthen our nation and meet America’s needs now and in the future.”