WASHINGTON, DC – March 4, 2008 – Today, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released a letter she sent to Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt requesting that the Committee increase funding for several critical programs in the Fifth Congressional District and throughout Massachusetts in the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution.  The President's budget proposal released last month contained drastic cuts to several federal programs which help support the well being of cities, health care initiatives, and public safety.
 
In response to the President's proposal, the Budget Committee will craft a Budget Resolution tomorrow which reflects the spending priorities of the House of Representatives for the coming Fiscal Year.  As a member of the Budget Committee, Tsongas will work with her colleagues during the session to establish appropriate levels of funding for programs that benefit the Fifth District and which she identified in her letter to Chairman Spratt. Once the resolution has been approved by the Committee it will be considered by the full House of Representatives in the coming weeks.