Walden applauds, Merkley slams Trump budget request

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., released released the following statement Monday on President Trump’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2019.

“I applaud President Trump for outlining his priorities for the country in today’s budget request. I look forward to working alongside the President and his team to improve American infrastructure and rural broadband deployment, the management of our forests and public lands, and veterans’ access to care.

“I also share the President’s passion to combat the devastating opioid crisis that is plaguing communities in Oregon and across the country. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will continue to work to advance legislative solutions and bring even more resources to this fight in the coming months. Our state and nation face many challenges and I look forward to working with the administration and across the aisle here in Congress to find solutions for Oregonians and the American people.”

Background

As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Walden is at the forefront of the effort to combat the nationwide opioid epidemic. Walden’s committee is also continuing to work on important infrastructure priorities, such as expanding high-speed broadband infrastructure to rural America.

Combating the Opioid Crisis

The Energy and Commerce Committee has led the charge in combatting the opioid crisis, spearheading landmark legislation such as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and the 21 st Century Cures Act. The committee will begin another legislative push later this month. Learn more about the committee’s efforts here. After $6 billion in funding to combat the opioid crisis was secured in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the Energy and Commerce Committee stands ready to craft further reforms and provide even more resources in this fight. The Energy and Commerce Committee is conducting several active investigations into the worst abuses of the opioid crisis, included alleged opioid pill dumping. Learn more here.

Energy and Commerce Committee: Infrastructure by the Numbers

24 — the number of Energy and Commerce Committee infrastructure bills that have passed the House. Several more have passed the full committee or have been reviewed in legislative hearings. 25 — the number of infrastructure bills reviewed during a legislative hearing on 1/30/2018.

45 — the number of infrastructure-related hearings held by the Energy and Commerce Committee this Congress.
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Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., released the following statement after President Trump released his infrastructure plan:

“President Trump’s long-awaited ‘infrastructure plan’ doesn’t directly invest in infrastructure and can hardly be called a plan. Trump’s supposed 1.5-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan is actually a no-infrastructure sham.

“Instead of helping struggling communities, this proposal actually saddles them with higher costs – raising taxes on local taxpayers and forcing commuters to pay ‘Trump Tolls’ to line the pockets of Wall Street. This proposal is the legislative equivalent of Trump University or Trump Taj Mahal – an absolute scam designed to make Donald Trump look better while forcing others to pay. ”