Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding. I also thank Leader Scalise for his time today.

We have a historic opportunity to advance the key priorities of this administration with a one-bill solution, and I fully agree we need to move forward in a way that reflects the needs of the American people.

This budget resolution unlocks the next step in the reconciliation process to deliver on our priorities. That includes extending key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, like doubling the standard deduction, expanding the child tax credit, and maintaining the death tax exemption. These policies make a real difference for working families, farmers, and small business owners, and allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money.

We also need to fulfill our commitment of securing our border, strengthening our economy, and rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse.

It is my understanding that after this resolution passes, House leadership will be working with the Senate to come to an agreement on reconciliation language so that the committees can begin drafting specific policies to achieve the administration's agenda.

There has been a lot of political rhetoric about what this upcoming budget resolution does and does not do, and I want to be clear about where I stand.

As a Representative of one of the most agriculturally rich districts in the country, it is my constituents who are responsible for putting food on everyone's table. My district also has one of the highest Medicaid populations in the Nation.

I have heard from countless constituents who tell me the only way they can afford healthcare is through programs like Medicaid, and I will not support a final reconciliation bill that risks leaving them behind.

Medicaid cuts are deeply unpopular with the American families who sent us here to deliver on President Trump's agenda. I understand Medicaid is not explicitly named in this bill, but achieving $880 billion in budget cuts within E&C's jurisdiction is not an easy task.

I also ask that leadership remain committed to working with my colleagues and me to produce a final product that strengthens critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP and ensures our constituents are not left behind.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source