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Gabbard votes to pass bipartisan budget compromise

MEDIA RELEASE

Tulsi Gabbard has voted for a budget compromise that will provide relief from across-the-board budget cuts and manufactured crises.

The bipartisan bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 332-94.

“The budget compromise is a modest step in the right direction, and provides some relief from arbitrary budget cuts and the threat of another government shutdown,” Gabbard said. “Though this deal is far from perfect and I am disappointed with certain provisions, this compromise is a positive step toward averting preventable crises like another government shutdown and provides much-needed economic certainty for our local businesses, federal workers, and Defense employees. Bringing together people from both parties to work out the differences and do what is in the best interest of the American people is critically important as we work toward long-term solutions to the economic challenges we are facing across the country.”

“I am still very concerned about some of the arbitrary budget cuts that remain in place, and certain provisions of this bill that will unfairly burden inter-island travelers and people in Hawaii. In particular, the significant hike in the Aviation Passenger Security Fee is harmful because so many of our residents rely on air travel to get to work, access healthcare, and visit loved ones on other islands. I am working towards an exemption to this fee hike, as Congress has granted previously in Hawaii for programs such as the Essential Air Service and other air transportation charges.”

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 sets discretionary, or non-mandatory, spending at $1.012 trillion, about halfway between the Senate and House budgets.

The compromise provides $63 billion over two years in relief from across-the-board budget cuts, split evenly between Defense and non-Defense programs.

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