Senator Hassan Statement on President Trump’s Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement today after President Trump released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2020. Following calls from Senators Hassan and Shaheen and the entire New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, the budget proposal includes $1.5 billion for State Opioid Response grants that fund prevention, treatment, and recovery and support services.

“I appreciate that President Trump heeded our calls to prioritize funding for State Opioid Response grants by proposing to maintain the increased funding Senator Shaheen and I fought to secure through this program last year. I am also encouraged by the significant increase in proposed funding to bolster our country’s cyber defenses.

“However, I am deeply concerned that this fiscally irresponsible budget proposal falls short on other critical priorities that are essential to our economy and the safety and well-being of our state and country. President Trump’s proposal would slash $845 billion from Medicare, which the President repeatedly said he would not do; it cuts and caps Medicaid and ends Medicaid expansion, which experts on the front line have called the number one tool we have to combat the substance misuse crisis; and it also cuts other important funding to combat the opioid crisis, including gutting the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The opioid crisis is raging in communities across our country, and it will take far more resources to stem – and ultimately reverse – this devastating epidemic.  

“I am also troubled that this proposal harms economic development, hinders our efforts to support innovative businesses, and undermines environmental protections. By making massive cuts to K-12 education, after school programs, and the Economic Development Administration this proposal would have a negative impact on our economy, and set back our efforts to ensure that our businesses have the strong workforce that they need to thrive. And as we continue working to combat climate change and address PFAS contamination in our communities, I am disappointed that the President is choosing to cut programs that are designed to keep our air and water clean and safe. 

“Members of both parties have made clear that President Trump’s budget proposal isn’t going anywhere, and I’ll keep working across the aisle on a fiscally responsible budget that supports the health and well-being of all of our people, strengthens our economy, and bolsters our national security.”

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