Save America's Communities Coalition

Statements by
Members of Congress

Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Comments on the House Budget Resolution

I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida for yielding. Mr. Chairman,

I rise in support of the rule and the budget resolution. The rule allows for debate on the Budget Resolution, along with three substitutes, two of which were offered by the minority.

I commend Chairman Nussle and members of the Budget Committee on a good product that addresses several of the concerns that I had with the Presidents budget.

I am pleased that the budget provides for the extension of tax cuts that have brought 20 months of job growth to our nations economy. I also agree with increases for our National Defense and Homeland Security to provide for our troops fighting the war on terror and to keep our communities safe.

The Community Development Block Grant program is crucial to cities and rural areas across my district. The Presidents budget proposed reducing funds to CDBG and seventeen other economic development programs from $5.31 billion to $3.71 billion. I am pleased that the Budget Committee added an additional $1.1 billion to the Presidents request for the functional category encompassing these programs. This budget resolution makes no assumption on the Presidents proposed Communities Initiative.

Our veterans deserve the very best health care and services our nation can offer them. Funding for veterans has increased by 47 percent over the past four years. I am pleased that the committee added $297 million this year to the Presidents budget proposal for Veterans, and I will continue to work to see additional funding for our Veterans.

I continue to have some concerns with the Budget. I am a strong supporter of Vocational Education and TRIO programs. The Presidents budget proposal would combine these into a high school intervention initiative and reduce funding. TRIO programs are very successful in helping low income students with the transition to college. Vocational Education programs offer many high school students motivation to work hard in all of their classes, and provide job skills for those who do not go on to college. I look forward to working with the Appropriations Committee to ensure adequate funding levels for TRIO and Vocational Education.

Medicaid funds are very important to low income West Virginians. I urge my colleagues to avoid cuts to Medicaid as the reconciliation instructions found in this resolution are implemented.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that priorities like Veterans, Education, Economic Development, and Medicaid are adequately funded as the process continues. I support the rule and the resolution and yield back the balance of my time.