LANGEVIN STATEMENT ON THE RYAN REPUBLICAN BUDGET

Plan Adversely Affects Seniors, Students and the Middle Class

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) issued the following statement in response to the Ryan Republican Budget, which passed the House by a vote of 219 to 205:

“At a time when Rhode Island is slowly pulling out of the recession, this budget pushes that progress back, protecting tax breaks and tax loopholes for corporations and millionaires at the expense of middle class families. The Republican budget slashes food assistance to Rhode Island families, makes college less affordable and eliminates the Medicare guarantee for our seniors. I am opposed to everything this budget stands for, including the gutting of investments in education, biomedical research and infrastructure.

“In Rhode Island, the impacts will be felt particularly hard. Nearly 14,000 seniors that have benefitted from the closure of the Medicare Part D prescription drug donut hole would be affected and an astounding $2.9 billion in federal Medicaid funding would be cut over the next decade. For higher education, 2,440 fewer students would be awarded Pell grants and, overall, Rhode Island students would receive $12.7 million less in Pell Grant funding. The pain will be shared by early childhood and secondary education as well, with Title I support available to almost 9,000 fewer students and 550 Head Start slots eliminated.

“Supporting job growth is my top priority in Congress, and should be everyone’s priority, and yet the Ryan proposal would hurt our workforce significantly. Five thousand fewer Rhode Islanders would receive Training and Employment Services and 9,700 fewer would receive Job Search Assistance. The budget rejects a critical extension of emergency unemployment insurance while maintaining tax breaks for big oil and Wall Street, and protecting tax loopholes for corporations that ship jobs overseas. I have a different vision for America – one that creates opportunity for all, not a select few at the top. This is a disappointing setback, but I will continue to fight for an economy that works for everyone.”