Congressman Henry Cuellar, (D-TX28), today released the following statement on the FY 2014 Republican budget, which passed the U.S. House 221-207.

 “Our economy is at a critical stage in its recovery. These cuts are arbitrary and severe.  Passing legislation that we know for a fact will slow economic growth and cost people their jobs is the wrong thing to do. This is another one-sided bill that harms the sector that has proven to be the key to a robust U.S. economy: middle class families.

“Ending Medicare as we know it will have adverse effects on our seniors and our economy; this budget proposal leaves many questions unanswered with unspecified cuts. As legislators we have the responsibility to provide effective legislation that will create jobs, grow the economy and create fair economic opportunities for every American. This budget does the complete opposite.”

According to the Economic Policy Institute, it is estimated the GOP Budget would cost two million jobs in 2014 and likely cost the middle class as much as $3,000 in higher taxes. It will also end Medicare provisions by replacing it with a voucher system that is not guaranteed to keep pace with health care costs over time.  It also eliminates benefits from the Affordable Care Act increasing costs to seniors for preventive care services and prescription drugs. Under the GOP Budget, the student loan funding would get cut by a total of $70 billion over the next ten years.