President Biden Releases Fiscally Irresponsible Budget

On Thursday, over a month later than he was statutorily required, President Biden finally released his Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal.

Let’s be clear: President Biden’s budget proposal is not fiscally responsible. It does not reduce deficits, no matter how much his administration tries to spin it. The president’s latest proposal follows the playbook of progressives-- mountains of new taxes to fund an ever-expanding government, massive spending increases, and more debt for future generations of Americans to shoulder.

His budget proposal calls for $5 trillion in new taxes. Make no mistake, middle class families and small businesses will not be spared from the president’s tax scheme. It also proposes $82 trillion in spending over a decade, the highest level in history.

Worse yet, the trillions in new taxes aren’t even enough to pay for Biden’s massive spending hikes. This budget proposal includes $17 trillion in deficits over a decade; click here and view Table S-1 or page 135 in the president’s budget. This is $3 trillion more in deficits than the Biden administration proposed in their budget just last year; click here and view Table S-1 or page 119 of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

I asked United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen about the Biden administration’s false claims of deficit reduction during a hearing of the House Ways & Means committee on Friday. Watch my questions to Sec. Yellen by clicking below. 

The fact of the matter is that the Biden administration’s claims of fiscal responsibility and deficit reduction are nothing more than budget gimmicks.

I call this swamp math. There is no one outside of Washington who will look at the Biden administration’s proposal and think that they are reducing the deficit.

It is a shame because the fiscal challenges facing our nation are great.

Earlier this week, thanks to Speaker McCarthy’s leadership, every Member of the House of Representatives was briefed on the state of America’s finances by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). All members heard the grim news from the CBO—absent action, our national debt will eclipse $154 trillion by 2053. In the same time, the debt held by the public will equal nearly double our nation’s total economic output. This level of debt is unsustainable and puts our financial and national security at risk.

Correcting course will require an honest assessment of our nation’s finances and an earnest commitment to restoring fiscal discipline in Washington.

The challenges posed by our national debt and continual deficits is great, but we can, and we must, begin to change the trajectory of America’s financial future.  

Responding to Ashley of Columbia, PA

I greatly appreciate hearing from folks across the district who reach out to me to share their thoughts, concerns, or ideas. I recently received an email from Ashley in Columbia, PA who wrote to share her concerns about energy prices and inflation.

Thank you, Ashley, for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope you’ll watch the first installment of a new video series where I respond directly to constituents’ messages. I invite everyone to visit my website to send me a message to share your thoughts and ideas.

Ways & Means Committee Field Hearing Held in Oklahoma

Earlier this week, I joined my colleagues on the Ways & Means Committee for a field hearing held on the state of our economy. The committee held the hearing in Yukon, Oklahoma in America’s heartland.

I am thankful that Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith is holding these field hearings, because it is so important for Members of Congress to hear directly from the American people about how they are impacted by Biden’s policies. What we heard from the witnesses testifying is very similar to the issues that I’ve heard about from so many of you. High inflation, high gas prices, high energy prices, and small businesses struggling to find employees are some of the issues which were discussed.

House Republicans will continue to address these issues as we advance our Commitment to America. Click here to watch the Ways & Means Committee field hearing held earlier this week.

Throughout the hearing, one thing became clear. There is a fundamental difference in approach to policymaking in Congress. Republicans believe the government’s function is to support the ingenuity of the American people.

Watch my remarks from the hearing by clicking the image below.

Demanding Accountability from the Department of Education

Last week, I joined Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx in sending a letter to the Department of Education asking for details about their department’s cost estimates for the student loan bailout.

Like many federal agencies, the Department of Education hires an independent auditor to review their financial statements. This is a common practice.

What’s uncommon, is that the independent auditor for the Department of Education was unable to sign off on the most recent audit because the department didn’t provide sufficient evidence regarding its calculations of President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.

The auditor’s report indicates that there’s a high risk that the department's financial statements were “materially misstated.”

How can we trust the administration’s cost estimates if an independent auditor can’t verify the facts?

This is just another example of the lack of transparency from this administration. Taxpayers deserve accountability and transparency, and the House Republican majority will continue to push for that.

Click here to read an article from the Washington Examiner detailing our efforts to demand accountability from the Department of Education.

February in Review

The second month of the year is in the books and 118th Congress is off to a great start. Watch, like, and share the second edition of my new video series recapping each month in Congress!

Visits in the District 

It was great to meet with Airport Director Ed Foster to learn about all the exciting things happening at the Lancaster Airport in Lititz! Thanks to State Rep. Tom Jones for joining!

Thanks to representatives from local credit unions for meeting with me last week to discuss how federal regulations impacts their organizations. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I appreciated the leadership of Union Community Care of Lancaster for visiting with me in Washington this week to discuss the critical work that community health centers do in our community and across the nation.

Smucker Service Corner 

If you have any questions or issues with a federal agency, please know that my office is here to assist you. You can call my district or Washington, DC offices for assistance or visit my website for any issue with a federal agency or department.

My office was able to assist Chris a retired veteran from from Elizabethtown receive his military payback he was owed by working with the Department of Defense.

Jeremy from York received his approved Passport with help from my office. Safe travels Jeremy!

My office was able to assist the family of a veteran from Lancaster County by obtaining his military discharge record, known as form DD214, to ensure a military honor guard will be present at the veteran’s memorial service. The family has my deepest condolences as they mourn this loss. May we all give thanks for those who selflessly serve our nation in the armed forces.

Here to Help

Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any Veterans Affairs or non-VA health care facility for free emergency health care. Click here to learn more.

Recently the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched. Individuals who are struggling or in crisis can simply call or text 988 to reach trained counselors. Individuals can also visit https://988lifeline.org/ to chat with a counselor. Click here to learn more about the lifeline from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Many individuals have recently contacted my office looking for assistance with their unemployment compensation claims, which are administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, not federal agencies. If you’re seeking assistance with your unemployment claim, you can contact your state legislator for assistance. Click here to find your state legislator’s contact information. 

Looking for information on federal grants? Learn more about the grant awarding process and search the federal database of grant programs at www.grants.gov.

Stay Connected

To stay up-to-date on my work in the district and Washington, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also check out my YouTube page, where there are 100+ videos, many of which are direct responses to your questions.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Smucker