By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 President Donald J. Trump (R) released details of his first budget. U.S. Representatives Martha Roby (R from Montogomery) and Bradley Byrne (R from Montrose) were optimistic about parts of President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget to Congress.
Congresswoman Martha Roby said in a statement, “The release of President Trump’s budget blueprint to Congress marks an important step in funding our federal government through the appropriations process. The House Appropriations Committee is wasting no time going about this work and is holding multiple budget hearings with Trump Administration officials this week. In fact, this morning the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee was pleased to welcome Chiefs from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for a briefing to review funding levels for our men and women in uniform.”
Congressman Bradly Byrne said, “Overall, I believe President Trump’s budget is a step in the right direction toward cutting wasteful spending, right-sizing the federal bureaucracy, and rolling back government overreach. At the same time, there are some proposals that Congress must closely examine. Specifically, I am pleased to see President Trump get serious about reforming our nation’s welfare programs. Many of these programs are the true drivers of our national debt, and they must be reformed.”
Rep. Roby said, “When it comes to the federal budget, my priorities are simple: we need to rein in wasteful spending to balance the budget, restore military funding, and ensure critical national needs like border security and veterans services are properly funded. I’m optimistic our unified Republican government can craft sensible spending policies for the nation, and I’m honored to play a role in this process on the Appropriations Committee.”
Rep. Byrne said, “As we make these reforms, we must also put a real focus on skills training programs to help Americans prepare for and obtain good paying jobs. While we absolutely must encourage work, we need to do so while also expanding opportunities for low income Americans to gain the skills necessary to meet the needs of today’s workforce. In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with my Congressional colleagues from both sides of the aisle to put forward a plan to reform our welfare programs, promote job training, and close the opportunity gap.”
Byrne however was critical of Trump’s proposed spending for the Department of Defense in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018. Byrne said, “Like President Trump, I want to see us rebuild our nation’s military, but this budget proposal shortchanges our national defense. Specifically, the budget does not get us any closer to building up a 350 ship Navy fleet, and it lacks the full funding necessary to reverse our military readiness crisis.”
Rep. Byrne is the Vice Chairman of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee,
Chairman Byrne added, “Ultimately, Congress will decide how to best spend taxpayer dollars, and it is my hope that we will go even further to ensure our military men and women have the full range of resources necessary to do their job.”
Congresswoman Roby is a member of the Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation. She serves on subcommittees for Defense; Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.
On Wednesday the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a budget hearing with commanders from the National Guard and Reserve. Also on Wednesday the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a budget hearing with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. On Thursday the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a budget hearing with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Roby is scheduled to participate in each hearing.
Congress generally ignores the Presidents budgets and writes their own. Since 2009 the budget process has broken down and instead Congress has passed a series of continuing resolutions to keep the country operational.
