Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC— This week, Reps. Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Scott Peters (CA-52) led 22 Members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to House Leadership asking that they include budget and debt reform measures in the upcoming omnibus spending package.

“With an unsustainable debt and no end in sight to ever-increasing deficits, we cannot continue to ignore the looming fiscal crisis on the horizon,” said Rep. Arrington. “The congressional budget process is fundamentally broken and will continue to yield bad results and incentivize bad behavior until we address the root causes. There are numerous bipartisan budget reform initiatives that will help us get our fiscal house in order, reduce deficit spending and long-term debt-to-GDP, and protect our children from the catastrophic consequences of a sovereign debt crisis and years of irresponsible fiscal policies. I’m proud to work with Representative Peters and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to include bipartisan provisions in the upcoming spending package.”

The lawmakers laid out two specific provisions for consideration:

• Provisions to create a debt commission. The group pointed to the Sustainable Budget Act as a workable model. Alternatively, other bipartisan commissions to address fiscal challenges and near-term trust fund insolvency would create forums for bipartisan solutions.

• Provisions to help ensure that we complete responsible budgets that will reduce the long-term debt-to-GDP and the threat of default from the debt ceiling while providing opportunities for members to bring forward bipartisan debt reduction proposals. The Responsible Budgeting Act is one example of legislation that would help accomplish these goals.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE.

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