Boyle, Budget Democrats Demand Answers from Vought on Rising Costs and Looming Health Care Losses

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, led Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding answers on the Trump Administration’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis and the millions of Americans who Republicans are kicking off their health care. The letter follows Committee Democrats’ request in December that Director Vought testify before the Committee. He refused to appear, becoming the first OMB Director in 50 years to decline to testify before the Committee.

“The American people are confronting a cost-of-living crisis and a weakening job market, both made worse by the Administration’s policies,” wrote Ranking Member Boyle and Committee Democrats. “To make matters worse, Republicans have refused to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits. When open enrollment ends on January 15, millions of Americans will face higher costs, fewer benefits, or no health coverage at all.”

The Members continued: “the House Budget Committee cannot wait weeks or months for basic oversight. The Committee must hear from you now.”

The letter highlights rising prices for food, energy, and other essentials; a weakening job market; and Republican policies ripping away Americans’ health care to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. In the letter, the Members:

• Demand to know if the Administration has any plans to prevent 15 million Americans from losing their health care;
• Call on Vought to state whether the Administration supports extending the enhanced ACA tax credits;
• Ask if the Administration has any plan to bring down the rising cost of food, energy, and housing; and
• Demand answers about the illegal impoundment of funds, misuse of shutdown authorities, withholding of SNAP benefits, and unlawful reductions-in-force.

The full letter is available here.

The letter is signed by Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Rep. Scott H. Peters, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rep. Veronica Escobar, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Becca Balint, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Paul D. Tonko, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, and Rep. Gabe Amo.

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