Boyle Statement on Passage of Extreme Republican Budget

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, after the House Budget Committee passed an extreme, partisan FY2024 budget resolution over the unanimous objection of Budget Committee Democrats, Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement:

“Just 10 days away from another Republican government shutdown, Budget Committee Republicans have revealed just how extreme their budget plan really is. This budget resolution is a dark vision for America: one that favors the wealthy and well-connected over working families, one that makes massive cuts to the critical programs Americans rely on, and one that doubles down on the extreme demands that are driving our nation towards a shutdown.”

“Committee Republicans have sadly chosen to ignore Democratic amendments that would have protected American families and stopped the threat of a government shutdown. By rejecting our amendments to protect American families from Republicans' extreme cuts, they have made it perfectly clear that their top priority is gutting everything from health care to education — no matter how many families pay the price. By rejecting our amendments to honor the bipartisan budget agreement — one that 15 Republican members of this committee previously voted for — they have made it perfectly clear that Republicans are choosing to go back on their word and threaten a government shutdown.”

“While Republicans may not care about the costs of a government shutdown or the devastating impact of these cuts, Democrats do. We will continue fighting to make sure this nightmarish vision never becomes reality, and we will continue fighting to invest in the American people so that we can lower the cost of living and grow the middle class. Instead of wasting more time on this far-right agenda, House Republicans need to do their job, honor the bipartisan budget agreement, and keep our government open.”

If enacted, the devastating budget cuts passed by House Republicans would strip away access to affordable health care, raise the price of essential goods, and let families go hungry, all while laying the foundation for new tax giveaways to the wealthy and well-connected. A report from Budget Committee Democrats, “Spoiling For Shutdown: Republicans Restart Budget Calendar,” detailing the dangerous policies, harmful cuts, and questionable foundations for this budget resolution can be found here.

The following amendments were offered by Budget Committee Democrats and rejected by Budget Committee Republicans:

1. Stop Shutdown and Honor the Deal – Ranking Member Boyle

   This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans.

2. Protect Social Security Benefits and Solvency – Ranking Member Boyle

   This amendment calls for protecting benefits for Social Security recipients and protecting the solvency of the trust fund, for example by asking those making over $400,000 a year to contribute more to the trust fund and by closing loopholes that the wealthy use to avoid paying into the trust fund.

3. Protect Medicare Benefits and Solvency – Rep. Higgins

   The amendment states that it is the policy of the resolution that Congress should strengthen and secure Medicare by making changes in law that would strengthen the traditional Medicare program and extend Medicare solvency.

4. Protect and Improve Medicaid – Rep. Schakowsky

   The amendment strikes Republicans' policy statement on Medicaid work requirements, rejects their draconian cuts, and states that it is the policy of the resolution that Congress should protect Medicaid coverage for all eligible people and pay for Medicaid improvements by requiring the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share, which may include raising the corporate tax rate, imposing the minimum tax on billionaires so that they pay at least 25 percent on their full income, increasing the marginal tax rate on earners making more than $400,000 a year, and closing the loophole for wall street fund managers to tax carried interest as ordinary income.

5. Stop Shutdown and Go After Tax Cheats – Rep. Blumenauer

   This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to the IRS. It reverses Republican cuts to IRS enforcement of billionaires and big corporations, Republican failure to adequately secure elections, and their chipping away at America's diversity.

6. Stop Shutdown and Protect Law Enforcement from Republican Cuts – Rep. Kildee

   This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to law enforcement.

7. Stop Shutdown and Protect Infrastructure from Republican Cuts – Rep. Peters

   This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to programs critical for our nation's infrastructure.

8. Stop Budget Busting Tax Cuts for the Rich – Rep. Doggett

   This amendment strikes Section 302 of the bill text. Removing Section 302 means that tax cuts for the wealthy and well connected, like the extension of President Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, must be paid for instead of hiding the costs in a budget gimmick.

9. Stop Shutdown and Protect Agriculture from Republican Cuts – Rep. Panetta

   This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to agricultural programs that are vital to our nation's farmers.

10. Stop Shutdown and Protect the Health and Well-Being of Americans from Republicans Cuts – Rep. Jackson Lee

    This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to programs that protect the health and well-being of Americans.

11. Stop Shutdown and Protect Economic Security Programs from Republican Cuts – Rep. Omar

    This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to economic security programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) and housing programs.

12. Stop Shutdown and Protect Research and Development from Republican Cuts – Rep. Trone

    This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to scientific research and technological advancement.

13. Stop Shutdown and Protect Rural Communities from Republican Cuts – Rep. Balint

    This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to community and regional development programs that largely benefit rural communities.

14. Stop Shutdown and Protect Education and Workforce from Republican Cuts – Rep. Scott

    This amendment stops the threat of a government shutdown by restoring 2024 appropriations to the funding levels agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). It prevents the dangerous cuts envisioned by extreme MAGA House Republicans, particularly reductions to education and workforce programs.

15. Reform the Debt Ceiling – Ranking Member Boyle

    This amendment reforms the debt ceiling to remove the threat of a catastrophic default and ongoing manufactured crises by Republicans.

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