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Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Owens announced that he has been appointed to the influential House Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal spending.

In Congress, the Committee exercises authority over federal spending in every department.  This includes spending for the Department of Defense and their activities at Fort Drum, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and their work on behalf of farmers in New York, Customs and Border Patrol and myriad other departments and agencies that do important work in New York State.

“I look forward to giving the North Country a voice in the Committee’s important work,” said Owens.  “This provides an opportunity to support investment in federal programs that help businesses and families in the 21^st District while advocating for important economic drivers like Fort Drum.  At the same time, we must work towards responsible cuts to federal spending to reduce the debt and set the country back on track towards fiscal responsibility.”

The Committee also plays a central role reducing the deficit by eliminating wasteful and duplicative spending and allocating federal investments that play a critical role in addressing the challenges and opportunities New York communities face.

Previously, Owens served on the Agriculture Committee, the Armed Services Committee, and the Small Business Committee.  His assignment to the exclusive Appropriations Committee requires that he step down from all other committees.

“I have been proud to represent Fort Drum on the Armed Services Committee and look forward to continuing my commitment to Fort Drum’s future growth through service on the Appropriations Committee,” Owens said. “I will ensure that farmers and small businesses in the district are represented on the Committee as well so they have every opportunity to succeed and drive the local economy.”

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Washington, DC – Last night, the House of Representatives passed legislation, The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8), to avert the fiscal cliff and protect middle class tax cuts.  Congressman Bill Owens supported the measure with his vote and offered the following statement:

“This legislation represents a promise kept to protect the middle class from increased taxes while ensuring the very wealthy pay their fair share,” said Owens.  “While I would have liked to see the bill address spending and a comprehensive farm bill reauthorization, it was clear after weeks of negotiation that the time for talk was over.  With middle class tax hikes averted, Congress should now get to work cutting federal spending and addressing the need for good farm policy.”

The legislation passed the House by a vote of 257-167 after being passed in the Senate earlier this week with a strong bipartisan majority.  The bill is now cleared for the President’s signature.

Background:

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8) includes many of the proposals Congressman Owens has advocated for throughout the year. Congressman Owens has long supported allowing Bush-era tax cuts expire for the wealthy, either at the $250,000 or $500,000 level, believing this represented a compromise on the issue.  This legislation would extend tax breaks up to the $450,000 level.

Congressman Owens also called throughout the year for a continuation of a $5 million per person ($10 million per couple) exemption for the estate tax, supporting family farmers across his congressional district.  Legislation passed this week would maintain the $5 million / $10 million exemption.  The threshold would also be indexed for inflation to protect farmers in rural areas.

This compromise legislation would delay the sequester of federal spending by two months, something Congressman Owens said would need to be addressed.

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