U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), a member of the Ways and Means and Budget Committees, released the following statement regarding the proposed budget blueprint issued by President Trump today.

"This budget makes severe, draconian, and needless cuts to programs Americans rely on every day – from support for clean air and safe water, to promoting diplomacy abroad, to medical research, to home heating support for low-income families and seniors.

"The budget is particularly bad for New Jersey, eliminating community development grants, slashing support for mass transportation and Amtrak rail service, harming programs to clean up contaminated sites, reducing homeland security grants, and zeroing out the pre-disaster mitigation program as we continue to prepare for next storm in wake of Sandy and Irene.

"I stand with the majority of Americans who are not asking for such harsh changes to our public services. I stand with New Jerseyans worried this budget might eliminate their health care, low-income families concerned about safety net programs, and seniors scared about the effect cuts will have on their fixed-income household. I stand against the plan President Trump has put forward, and am ready to fight tooth and nail for priorities that matter to northern New Jersey."