Welch Votes Against Massive Cuts in Mid-year Spending Bill

Press Release

Rep. Peter Welch on Saturday voted against a mid-year spending bill that would cut the federal budget by more than $60 billion.

The Fiscal Year Continuing Appropriations Act for FY2011 (H.R. 1) slashes funding to scores of federal programs, ranging from college financial aid to nutritional assistance and veterans housing to early childhood education. The bill withdraws federal funding for Planned Parenthood and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and it defunds the implementation of health care reform and EPA pollution enforcement.

The House adopted H.R. 1 by a vote of 235 to 189.

"We must engage in serious fiscal reform to combat growing deficits, but we must not do so on the backs of seniors, low-income and middle-class families. While these cuts succeed in causing great hardship to countless families in Vermont and throughout the country, they fail to adequately address our long-term budget challenge," Welch said.

H.R. 1 will now move to the Senate for consideration. President Obama has vowed to veto the bill in its current version. A spending bill must be passed by March 4th to continue funding the government.

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