Charles Skelton: “let me take this means to congratulate Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, also a senior and well-respected member of…”

“let me take this means to congratulate Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, also a senior and well-respected member of the House Armed Services Committee, for crafting a strong, balanced budget for fiscal year 2009. I am pleased to support this bill that would provide for a strong national defense, would put our country on a path to budget surpluses in 2012, would promote tax relief for middle-class American families, and would invest in programs that have been priorities for those living in rural Missouri. On defense, the House Budget Resolution would prioritize resources to restore military readiness that has been worn down by repeated deployments and more than 6 years of war. The resolution would reject TRICARE fee increases, provide funding to continue addressing problems such as those identified at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and would call for enhanced pay and benefits to improve the quality of life of our troops and their families. On rural affairs, the House Budget Resolution would bolster commodity support, agricultural research, and animal and plant inspection programs. It would assume sufficient resources for the Farm Bill, which provides Missouri farmers with a secure economic safety. It would also set aside critical funds for rural development, for food and nutrition programs, and for conservation.”