Griffin: Bill Sets Discretionary Spending Billions below Ryan Budget, Back to Bush Administration Levels

Statement

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) issued the following statement after House passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 3547), which codifies details of the Ryan-Murray budget agreement the House passed in December:

"House Republicans have made historic progress getting discretionary spending under control. There is still much waste, fraud and abuse to eliminate, but the new spending levels are an achievement. Under Speaker Pelosi, discretionary spending increased to an all-time high. Since Republicans won control of the House in 2010, we have reduced discretionary spending by $165 billion. Now, under the Paul Ryan-Patty Murray agreement in FY2014, discretionary spending--which comprises approximately 32 percent of the federal budget--will be $53 billion less than it was under President Bush in FY2008, adjusted for inflation. It will also be $27 billion less than the amount Budget Committee Chairman Ryan proposed in his original budget and $46 billion less than the base discretionary level set by the 2011 Budget Control Act. This is significant and makes this agreement worthy of support.

"However, as I said in December when I reluctantly supported the framework of this bipartisan package, I do not support many of its provisions. I would change them if I could. Chiefly, I vehemently disagree with its changes to veterans' pensions, and I was hopeful that this provision in particular would be made right before today's final vote. This bill takes the first step toward restoring all veterans COLAs by specifically exempting medically retired veterans from COLA reductions, but additional changes must be made, and I have been assured that the Veterans Affairs Committee is looking at this issue. I believe in entitlement reform that keeps the promises we have already made to veterans and the elderly and modernizes programs in a way that only impacts future retirees. I will continue to push for a fix that ensures Congress addresses excessive government spending without placing an undue burden on our veterans, service members, and their families.

"Passing this agreement averts another costly government shutdown. This bill also contains a critical provision to fund the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) for C-130s at Little Rock Air Force Base, the world's preeminent C-130 air base. I should note that in recent days there have been widespread rumors that members of the National Guard in Arkansas and around the country would not be paid due to Congressional inaction. That was and is completely false."

H.R. 3547 passed in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 359 to 67.

On January 13, Politico reported that under the Paul Ryan-Patty Murray agreement in FY2014, discretionary spending--which comprises approximately 32 percent of the federal budget--will be $53 billion less (about 10 percent less) than it was under President Bush in FY2008, adjusted for inflation.

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