Several Key Markey-Backed Priorities Included in Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of twin energy and climate panels in the House, issued the following statement today after the Obama Administration released the details of its budget request for fiscal year 2010.
“This visionary budget will help lead our country towards the clean energy future it deserves,” said Rep. Markey. “In these difficult economic times, families all across the nation are tightening their belts and this budget is no different. President Obama is committed to eliminating wasteful spending, while preserving the core priorities that will improve our health care system and expand access to education.”
“I am also pleased that the Obama administration has decided to cancel all funding for the dangerous and unnecessary ‘Reliable Replacement Warhead’ program, under which the Bush Administration sought to design and build thousands of new nuclear weapons.”
Rep. Markey fought the construction of these new nuclear weapons in the House, and welcomes the dramatic change in direction from President Obama to reduce nuclear dangers for all Americans.
The budget provides $3.2 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help low-income families with utility expenses, a program that Rep Markey has championed for decades.
The Budget substantially strengthens FDA’s work in ensuring the safety of food and medical devices. It includes more than $1 billion to improve inspections, surveillance, laboratory capacity, and response to prevent and control foodborne illness.
The Obama Administration’s Interior Department budget includes a number of provisions championed by Rep. Markey to ensure that American taxpayers are getting their fair share for giving Big Oil the right to drill on public land. The budget ensures that Big Oil companies “use or lose” their leases by incorporating an idea introduced in the House by Rep. Markey to charge a new fee on non-producing oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico. The House has repeatedly passed similar legislation authored by Rep. Markey seeking to correct these faulty leases.
The budget also dramatically increases funding for the Land and Water Acquisition Fund (LWCF) and fully funds the program at $900 million in 2014 for the first time since 2001.
