Rep. O’Halleran Issues Statement on Trump Administration’s Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following statement on the Trump administration's budget proposal:

"The budget proposed today by the Trump Administration would hurt rural communities, veterans, and seniors. Rural America needs more tools, not less, to be a part of the economic recovery and create new jobs.

"This budget slashes the few tools that rural communities depend on to develop, attract, and retain a strong workforce and good jobs.

"This budget breaks a promise to Rural America, by making jobs, affordable education, and health care harder to access for working families.

The budget proposal eliminates or reduces the following programs:

* The Rural Business and Cooperative Service

* The Economic Development Administration

* The Manufacturing Extension Partnership

* Community Development Block Grants

* Rural Water and Wastewater Grants

* Indian Community Development Block Grant

* Rural Economic Development Program

* Essential Air Service, critical to businesses in rural communities

* Reimbursement for rural health care providers

* Native American Housing Block Grants

* Medicare and Medicaid

* Veterans programs and services

"We must work together in a bipartisan way to ensure every American has the opportunity to compete for good jobs in the 21st century and that we keep our promises to our seniors and veterans."