Crapo: Proposed Budget Keeps Priorities, Adds Discipline

Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo expressed his support today for the priorities in President Bushâ??s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 budget, while urging fiscal discipline among lawmakers. Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, said he will closely monitor the Presidentâ??s proposals as oversight hearings are held in the coming weeks to ensure concerns about the federal deficit are addressed.â??With todayâ??s budget proposal, the President has identified and provided support for our nationâ??s most important priorities including winning the war on terror, protecting the homeland, and strengthening the economy,â?? Crapo said. â??The President is committed to supporting our military around the world and strengthening our ability to prevent future terrorist attacks, and todayâ??s proposal provides for these important objectives. In addition, the budget builds on the pro-growth economic policies that have laid the foundation for the economic recovery now underway, and increases funding for key priorities like education and job training. Importantly, the proposed budget seeks to limit federal spending growth, holding growth in non-defense, non-homeland security spending to 0.5 percent. I am concerned by the federal deficit, and am pleased that the Administration has taken this important first step. Our priority must be to build a path towards balancing the budget, and we cannot tolerate growing deficits. As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I will have the opportunity to more thoroughly review and comment on the Presidentâ??s proposals in the near future. As I do so, my strong concerns over the budget deficit will be evident.â?? Crapo also pointed out many Idaho priorities are included in the Presidentâ??s budget, including salmon recovery funding.â??Last year, in my first year on the Budget Committee, I was able to include language in the budget resolution that for the first time included Idaho as one of the states eligible for money under the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. By getting that important foot in the door, Idaho has now received its first $5 million for the fund from the Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations process. Today, for the first time, salmon recovery funding specifically for Idaho has been recognized in the Presidentâ??s budget request. Not only does todayâ??s request recognize Idaho in the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, but it also increases funding for Idaho to $8 million in Fiscal Year 2005.â??Other Idaho-specific funding levels are included below:Idaho would receive more than $44 million in Title I funding for the No Child Left Behind Act in FY 2005, an 8.6% increase over FY 2004 and a 64.4% increase over FY 2001. Idaho would receive more than $52 million for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) special education funding, an 11% increase over FY 2004 and an 84% increase over FY 2001. The Presidentâ??s budget provides more than $303 million for veterans in Idaho, a 6% increase over FY 2004. The President's Budget proposes $60 million for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) related activities. This is a $47 million increase over last year's funding and would be used for purposes including advanced research and development of BSE testing technologies, the collection of BSE test samples, and the development of a National Animal Identification system. # # #FOR INTERESTED MEDIA: A radio actuality is available by calling 1-800-545-1267, Ext. 327. You can also access the actuality through the Internet at www.senate.gov/src/radio/crapo .