WASSERMAN SCHULTZ STATEMENT ON BIPARTISAN BUDGET AGREEMENT

Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bipartisan Budget Agreement

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today after release of the bipartisan budget agreement:

“This budget agreement is a step in the right direction for our nation’s seniors and economy. I congratulate President Obama, his Administration, and Congressional negotiators on their good faith effort to begin to return to regular budget order and provide more certainty to the American people that Congress can responsibly manage our nation’s finances.

“Specifically, I’m pleased about important reforms to Medicare and Social Security Disability Insurance that will protect benefits and financial security for our seniors. The budget agreement avoids a 52 percent premium increase for a large portion of Medicare Part B recipients, and curtails significant increases in 2016 deductibles for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries. This deal also ensures the solvency of Social Security Disability Insurance until 2022 without cutting benefits or fundamentally limiting enrollment. We must protect the promise of Medicare and Social Security and never balance our budget on the backs of seniors.

“As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I’m encouraged any time I see bipartisan cooperation that works to prevent the nation from lurching into the next self-inflicted crisis. Additionally, this deal temporarily raises the indiscriminate, across-the-board sequester caps which Congressional Republicans have refused to lift permanently, giving us an opportunity to properly fund domestic programs. While this deal is not perfect, I am pleased to see that we are taking a step towards protecting America’s vulnerable while ensuring Congress returns to regular order.”