U.S. Senator John Boozman Statement on Budget Agreement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement on the signing of the Bipartisan Budget Act:

“Year after year, Congress struggles to reach a consensus on how to fund our national priorities. As each side digs in further, that commitment to come together becomes harder to find. This agreement is a breakthrough in that regard.

This bill ensures, that for two years, our military will no longer be hindered by sequestration. It allows us to uphold our promise to the men and women who served our nation in uniform, fight the opioid epidemic that is devastating our communities and begin to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.

In addition, the bill includes disaster relief for the states and territories hit hard by last year’s hurricanes, a long-term reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), greater stability for community health centers and a one-year extension of recently expired tax provisions. The agriculture provisions will provide a workable safety net for cotton producers in Arkansas and throughout the Cotton Belt.

Getting an agreement on all these big-ticket items takes considerable effort. It is my hope that by removing these obstacles, we can return to regular order, where we are no longer governing by crisis and funding decisions are made in a timely and responsible manner with proper congressional oversight.”