Congressman Fattah Statement on the President's 2017 Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Obama's FY 2017 budget:

"Today, President Obama released the final budget of his Presidency. Like the seven that have come before this, the FY 2017 budget details a vision for our country that focuses on policies and programs that will grow the middle class, and create a stronger, more secure nation. His budget is a vision for a bright future that invests in education, research, innovation, green energy, and infrastructure.

"The country has experienced tremendous economic growth under the Obama Administration's policies. The budget put forth today builds on this success, while focusing on areas where we can do more in order to create an America that prioritizes hard-working families across the country.

"In looking forward, there is nothing more important than strengthening our future generations. With this in mind, the President has made substantial investments in education to ensure that our youth are equipped with the resources and tools necessary to compete in a 21^st century economy. I am extremely pleased the budget contains boosted funding for early education programs, including increased support for Preschool Development Grants and new money for Early Head Start. This year's budget also sustains funding for GEAR UP—the college readiness program I created early in my Congressional career. Other priorities include new investments in apprenticeship initiatives, computer science instruction, and programs aimed at connecting young people to employment opportunities—all strategies that underline the President's commitment to the success of America's youth.

"For the last five years I have worked within Congress to strengthen our commitment to medical research and innovation—particularly around neuroscience—and I welcome the budget's new investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Administration's commitment to this area of research continues to grow; this budget proposal seeks to invest $910 million in FY 2017 for basic neuroscience research within NIH, and includes $45 million in new funding specifically for the BRAIN Initiative, which has already made great strides in helping to advance our understanding of the human brain. The budget also calls for funding the Vice President's Cancer Moonshot, the Administration's new initiative to find a cure for cancer. There are further investments in community health centers, the Precision Medicine Initiative, and the Innovation Corps—all programs I have helped strengthen through my work in the Appropriations Committee.

"The FY 2017 Budget addresses both the challenges and opportunities that the United States faces today, and those that we will face in the years to come. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee and throughout Congress to support the President's proposals and craft a federal budget that invests in the future of every American."

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

Related Links

http://www.fattah.house.gov