Dear Constituent,

I just voted to pass the “Bipartisan Budget Agreement” in the U.S. House of Representatives, an important first step towards avoiding a catastrophic national default that would likely spiral our country into a recession, cut millions of jobs, ravage retirement accounts, and undercut the historic economic progress we have made as Democrats in Congress - including the creation of more than 12 million jobs and the lowest unemployment rate in more than 50 years. 

The legislation now goes to the United States Senate for its consideration and then to the President for his signature if it is successful in the Senate.

The United States Congress has a solemn obligation to ensure our nation meets its financial obligations. With today’s U.S. House vote, we protected the full faith and credit of our country while safeguarding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs that over a million Marylanders rely on. Moreover, we saved everyday Americans from ravaging cuts proposed by the new House majority. Those cuts would have resulted in 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits, thousands of law enforcement positions eliminated, and the elimination of 200,000 Head Start slots that serve children and families. 

With this crisis soon to be behind us I believe, it is time to get back to work. 

Yours in service,

Kweisi Mfume
Member of Congress