Warner, Kaine React To President Obama's Budget Proposal

Press Release

U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both members of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statements on President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2016:

Senator Warner said: "The President's budget proposal alleviates the harmful impact of across-the-board sequester cuts, which hits the federal workforce and military and civilian defense workers across Virginia especially hard. These sequester cuts are due to return in full force next year unless Congress takes action," said Sen. Warner, a member of the Senate Budget and Finance committees. "I appreciate that the President has included proposals to try to help working families who are struggling with the costs of child care and college, and each of his new programs are paid for in the introduced budget. The Virginia delegation worked hard to protect funding for the overhaul of the USS George Washington and to maintain the Navy's fleet of 11 aircraft carriers, and the White House budget also includes funding to support ongoing efforts to upgrade our critical infrastructure at the Port of Virginia. While I don't agree with everything in the Administration's proposed budget, it does provide a strong frame for the upcoming work of achieving a responsible budget balance in setting our nation's spending priorities."

Senator Kaine said: "While I'm pleased that the President's Budget provides significant defense and non-defense sequester relief, the disproportionate impact of sequestration on Virginia demands that we work to reverse sequester cuts altogether. And although I have questions on certain proposals to achieve the goals of this Budget, I support its fundamental premise -- to bring middle class economics into the 21st century by making investments in the talent of the American people. The inclusion of full funding for the USS George Washington is especially welcome in this year's Budget proposal. Despite the fact that the GW was not included in the 2015 Budget, I was proud to work together with members of the Virginia delegation to restore funding for the aircraft carrier and protect the U.S. Navy's 11 carrier fleet. I also applaud the Obama administration for the on-time arrival of this year's Budget -- a critical piece in our continuing efforts to return to normal budget order."

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