Pallone Applauds Biden Budget Investments in America

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today on President Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget proposal: 

“President Biden’s budget is a bold investment in the American people. It builds on the incredible progress we’ve made over the last two years to modernize our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, lower health care and prescription drug costs, invest in a clean energy future, and boost American manufacturing and competitiveness.  

“I strongly support President Biden’s plan to strengthen Medicare for years to come and further lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors without raising a penny on anyone making less than $400,000 a year. It’s a commonsense plan that guarantees Medicare will be there for future generations without cutting a single benefit for seniors.  

“While the President has laid out an optimistic vision for our future, Republicans in Congress are meeting behind closed doors and have yet to put forward their own budget proposal. However, we know from their past statements and proposals that Republicans are planning to threaten our nation’s economic future. It is clear they intend to manufacture a debt crisis in order to repeal President Biden’s signature legislative accomplishments while cutting taxes for the wealthy and large corporations.  

“I’m also deeply alarmed that Republicans’ appear to be preparing to once again attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act and make devastating cuts to Medicaid. Republican leaders know these proposals are deeply unpopular, which is why they are hiding them from the public. However, the American people deserve to see Republicans’ extreme plans in the light of day, including what programs they intend to cut, and be able to compare them with the investments being proposed by President Biden.

“Republicans are also signaling they’ll continue to align themselves with Big Oil and corporate polluters over the American people. Their policies continue to promote fossil fuels instead of focusing on leading the world in the transition to a clean energy future that creates good-paying jobs here in the United States, lowers costs for consumers, and combats the worsening climate crisis.  

“The contrast could not be clearer. Democrats are looking to build on the progress we’ve made and to invest in the health and well-being of the American people. We stand ready to work together to fulfill these goals, but we will vigorously oppose Republicans’ efforts to imperil our economy and undermine the health care, environmental, and consumer protections that we fought so hard to enact.”

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