Courtney: Bipartisan Budget Deal a Positive Step

WASHINGTON— Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) released the following statement after the House passed a two-year spending agreement, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 by a vote of 332 to 94:

“After years of failure to produce a bipartisan budget deal, I am pleased to see that Congressional negotiators have taken a positive step towards breaking the harmful cycle of brinkmanship to put together the compromise bill that passed the House today. Like any compromise, it was not exactly what I would have wanted – the bill partially relieves sequestration for only two years, and includes some provisions that give me pause. However, on balance, the relief from the growing impacts of sequestration and partisan gridlock is an undeniable benefit.

“However, the refusal of House Republican leadership to allow a vote to extend unemployment insurance before Congress adjourns for 2013 is inexcusable. I strongly believe that Congress should remain in session to complete work on an unemployment insurance extension, overdue appropriations bills, and the Farm Bill. Our ‘to-do’ list is simply too long and there are too many in Connecticut and around the country waiting for us to act to adjourn tonight.

“Despite these remaining challenges, I am heartened by the passage of this bipartisan budget bill. It draws diverse support from a wide array of groups, from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey, to organizations highlighting sequestration’s continued impact on a wide array of health, education and public safety priorities. Mitigating the impact of sequestration and providing much-needed certainty will help grow our economy, and I urge the Senate to pass this bipartisan bill without delay.”