Politics & Government

Van Hollen Re-elected Ranking Member of Budget Committee

Van Hollen was unanimously re-elected Thursday to serve as ranking member of the House Budget Committee by the House Democratic Caucus.

 

The U.S. House of Representatives' Democratic Caucus unanimously re-elected Christopher Van Hollen Jr. on Thursday to serve as ranking member of the House Budget Committee.

"It has been a privilege to serve as ranking member of the Budget Committee for the last two years, and I am honored that my colleagues have re-elected me to continue to serve in the 113th Congress," Van Hollen (Dist. 8) of Kensington said after his reelection.

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The House Budget Committee is chaired by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). In the 112th Congress (2011 to 2012), the committee comprised 22 Republicans and 16 Democrats. As ranking member, Van Hollen is the most senior member of the committee from the minority party.

"Over the last two years our House Democratic Caucus has played a leading role in framing the key budget choices facing our country, and the Budget Committee is a central front in this national conversation," Van Hollen said on Thursday. "We will continue to fight to create jobs, protect health and retirement security, expand opportunities, and build a foundation for sustained economic growth by taking a balanced approach to long-term deficit reduction."

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With the so-called "fiscal cliff" looming, House Budget Committee members have their work cut out for them. Van Hollen has urged members of both parties to work together to solve the nation's fiscal challenges.

"I believe we have an opportunity to make genuine progress on accelerating job creation and reducing our long-term deficit if we take a balanced approach and work together," Van Hollen said.


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