IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 733 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 18, 2012 Mr. Ellison (for himself, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Bass of California, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Capuano, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Chu, Mr. Clarke of Michigan, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Filner, Mr. Gutierrez, Ms. Hahn, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Holt, Mr. Honda, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Kucinich, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Markey, Mr. McDermott, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Olver, Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Stark, Ms. Waters, and Ms. Woolsey) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that any deal replacing the Budget Control Act of 2011 should contain serious revenue increases and no Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefit cuts.

Whereas the start of sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the expiration of the tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush may lead to a deal on taxes and spending; Whereas Medicare is a cornerstone of the United States health care system and a vital part of life for more than 40 million United States seniors and more than 8 million citizens with disabilities; Whereas Medicaid provides health and long-term care services for low-income and middle-class families with family members stricken with catastrophic illness, injury, or disability, or facing prolonged infirmity; Whereas Social Security provides vital protections for people of all ages in 1 of every 4 families, including 36 million retired workers, 8.6 million disabled workers, 6.3 million survivors of deceased workers, and 6.5 million children, and since it has $2.7 trillion in accumulated assets and no borrowing authority, does not contribute to the Federal budget deficit; Whereas unemployment levels are still unacceptably high and Federal investments in areas such as infrastructure, education, research, nutrition, housing, and services struggling people in the United States depend on grow the economy and create jobs; Whereas extending the tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush would increase the deficit by $3.3 trillion over 10 years; Whereas long-term unsustainable deficits pose a threat to the social safety net; Whereas defense spending, not counting 2 off-budget wars, has doubled over the last decade, failing to responsibly reduce the national debt by cutting outdated defense programs and by addressing billions of dollars lost to waste, fraud, and abuse; Whereas the unbalanced Bowles-Simpson proposal contains unacceptable cuts of $402 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years, and substantial Social Security cuts for current and future beneficiaries; and Whereas working and middle class United States citizens have been working harder and harder for less and less: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that any deal on taxes and spending to replace the Budget Control Act should— (1)not cut Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits; (2)contain serious revenue increases, including closing corporate tax loopholes and increasing individual income tax rates for the highest earners; (3)significantly reduce defense spending to focus the United States Armed Forces on combating 21st century risks; and (4)promote economic growth and expand economic opportunity by including strong levels of job-creating Federal investments in areas such as infrastructure and education, and by promoting private investment.