05.09.01

Statement on the Budget Resolution

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today voted against the Budget Resolution, saying that it promises tax cuts to the wealthy tomorrow at the expense of national priorities today. Cantwell said she supports responsible tax relief and spending to stimulate economic growth, invest in education and health care, protect the environment and pay down the national debt, but the Budget Resolution fails to meet those responsibilities. In a related event, Cantwell today questioned Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham about the inadequacy of the President's commitment to continue cleaning up nuclear waste at Hanford.

"The final budget includes a $1.3 trillion tax cut, but doesn't provide enough money for national priorities like education and health care," Cantwell said. "This budget shortchanges programs that benefit children, seniors, working families, the environment, sustainable energy and energy conservation, and nuclear waste cleanup -- all extremely important to our quality of life in Washington state."

The Budget Resolution spends the Medicare surplus to finance current operations, rather than investing the surplus to build a stronger economy and to meet future Medicare and Social Security obligations. This threatens future benefits and fails to reserve funds to pay for proposed changes to these programs. "We've made promises to our seniors, the disabled, and working families, and before enacting new tax cuts we must fulfill our current commitments," Cantwell said.

Cantwell today sent Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham a letter urging him to work to increase the President's proposed budget to clean up the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The President's current budget outline falls about $400 million short of what is needed this year to meet cleanup milestones. In the letter, Cantwell noted that she was pleased the President recently announced he would reconsider the proposed nuclear cleanup budget.

In response on Cantwell's questioning today in an Energy and Natural Resources hearing, however, Secretary Abraham said he had not received any guidance from the White House on increasing the cleanup budget. Abraham said the President's cleanup budget would not increase, conceding that as a result vitrification would not be completed in fiscal year 2002 as planned.

"The President's proposed funding for Hanford cleanup is unacceptable; it is a national commitment that simply can't be overlooked," Cantwell said. "The entire Washington state congressional delegation agrees that the cleanup budget must be increased, but this Administration's priorities don't seem to include the health and safety of those who live near Hanford and along the Columbia River."