Statement by Congressman Jeb Bradley on House Passage of the Deficit Reduction Act Conference Report

STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN JEB BRADLEY ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT CONFERENCE REPORT
Monday, December 19, 2005

(Washington, D.C.) - First District Congressman Jeb Bradley issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed the conference report for H.R. 4241, the Deficit Reduction Act, early this morning. The Senate must pass the conference report before it can be sent to President Bush for his signature:

"The budget reconciliation is a necessary and important step in reducing our nation's deficit. The final bill trims $39.7 billion from the federal deficit by slowing the rate of growth of several entitlement programs.

"This legislation will reform mandatory spending programs like Medicaid to make them more efficient. Many of the reforms advocated by the bipartisan National Governors Association were included in the final bill. These reforms, which will give states greater flexibility and help to eliminate fraud, are essential to the long-term sustainability of the program.

"The conference report also includes $1 billion in fiscal year 2007 funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This funding is a jump start on next year's appropriation for LIHEAP. The House has already passed two separate appropriations bills that combined will fund LIHEAP at $4.1 billion for this fiscal year. I will continue to advocate for funding for this program, which is important to so many New Hampshire families.

"This reconciliation bill is a step in the right direction, though we must continue to make tough spending decisions so that we reduce the nation's budget deficit while allowing the economy to grow and allowing Americans to find jobs."

http://www.house.gov/bradley/200512193_main.html