Ranking Member Press
Enzi: Social Security and Medicare Programs Remain on Unsustainable Fiscal Path
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, this week expressed concern during a speech on the Senate floor that the Social Security and Medicare programs remain on an unsustainable fiscal path. Enzi noted that the Social Security trustees now estimate that the program's combined trust funds will be insolvent by 2035. Additionally, the Medicare trustees now estimate that program's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be insolvent by 2026. "We are facing … Continue Reading
04.09.19
Chairman Enzi: Congress Must Carefully Consider Defense Priorities Along with Nation’s Fiscal Challenges
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a hearing today on the Department of Defense fiscal year 2020 budget request, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said that Congress must carefully consider national defense investments and priorities within the context of America's fiscal challenges. "There is no greater duty than defending our nation from the threats it faces around the world," said Chairman Enzi. "However, we must also acknowledge that one of the gravest threats to o… Continue Reading
04.04.19
Chairman Enzi: Congress Must Improve the Way it Budgets for Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON D.C. - During a speech today on the floor of the United States Senate, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said that Congress must work to improve the way it budgets for inevitable natural disasters and emergencies. He said this would allow the country to respond to natural disasters more efficiently, while also reducing the burden on American taxpayers. "Congress should be open to any idea that could help our country better plan for the annual costs o… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Senate Budget Committee Approves Plan to Cut Deficits by Half a Trillion Dollars
WASHINGTON D.C. -The Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), today approved the FY 2020 Budget Resolution, which would reduce deficits by more than half a trillion dollars over five years and put America on a more sustainable fiscal path. Enzi noted the budget blueprint will help begin to reduce overspending and set real, achievable deficit reduction targets, while supporting reforms to mandatory spending programs. "The budget does not solve all of our fiscal challenges,… Continue Reading
03.27.19
Chairman Enzi: Senate Budget Resolution is First Step to Strengthen America’s Future
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today said Congress must begin the difficult task of addressing America's ballooning debt and deficits. The committee began consideration of the FY 2020 Budget Resolution, focused on reducing the deficit over the next five years. "This budget represents an important first step toward addressing our country's fiscal challenges and provides a path for us to begin working together to achieve real deficit reductio… Continue Reading
03.27.19
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Support for the FY 2020 Budget Resolution
ELECTED OFFICIALS: House Budget Committee Ranking Member Steve Womack (R-AR): "I commend Chairman Enzi for introducing a realistic and achievable budget, and for his intention to advance this resolution in the coming weeks. As lawmakers sitting on the budget committees in the House and Senate, we all have a responsibility to lead federal spending decisions that fund the priorities of the American people while also addressing our nation's fiscal challenges." POLICY ORGANIZATIONS Taxpayers for … Continue Reading
03.22.19
Enzi Unveils 5-Year Deficit Reduction Plan
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today released the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Resolution, which would reduce deficits by more than half a trillion dollars over five years. "Strengthening America's future for our children and grandchildren begins by putting our nation on a more sustainable fiscal path and reducing our nation's deficit spending, which is approaching $1 trillion per year," said Chairman Enzi. "This budget is a responsible first st… Continue Reading
03.15.19
BUDGET ROUNDUP: BUDGET RESOLUTION BASICS
KEY TAKEAWAYS A budget resolution is a governing blueprint that provides an annual plan for the federal government's finances. The Congressional Budget Act (CBA) requires budget resolutions to cover the upcoming fiscal year and at least the following four fiscal years. Budget resolutions provide a mechanism for Congress to review the spending and revenue policies it has previously enacted and develop and enforce fiscal targets. Recognizing Congress's power of the purse, budget resolutions … Continue Reading
03.13.19
Chairman Enzi: We Must Put Our Nation on a More Sustainable Fiscal Path
WASHINGTON D.C. - During a hearing today on the President's fiscal year 2020 budget proposal, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said that Congress and the President must work together to put our nation on a more sustainable fiscal path. "It is no secret the federal government spends more than it takes in and will soon produce annual deficits exceeding $1 trillion," said Chairman Enzi. "Make no mistake, both sides share in the blame of rising deficits and debt, … Continue Reading
03.11.19
Chairman Enzi's Statement On President’s FY 2020 Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement today after the President's fiscal year 2020 budget proposal was released: "The President's annual budget proposal is the first step in the federal budget process and will allow us to consider how his priorities align with the priorities of Congress," said Chairman Enzi. "I look forward to working with my colleagues and the President to curb federal overspending and help bring ou… Continue Reading
03.01.19
BUDGET ROUNDUP: Review of Almost $1 Trillion in Cap-Adjusted Spending
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Cap adjustments have allowed Congress to increase spending beyond the levels set forth in the Budget Control Act of 2011. These cap adjustments have resulted in almost $1 trillion in additional spending. The BCA contains several cap adjustments to increase spending for specified purposes, including emergencies, disasters, program integrity, and overseas contingency operations (OCO), without breaching the law's spending limits. The largest cap adjustments are the OCO and emer… Continue Reading
02.27.19
Enzi: Congress Has Spent Almost $1 Trillion Above Budget Caps Since 2011
WASHINGTON D.C. - During a Senate Budget Committee hearing on cap-adjusted spending under the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) noted that cap adjustments have allowed Congress to spend almost $1 trillion beyond the levels set forth in the law. Enzi said these cap adjustments have created an additional path to increase spending. "While a primary objective of the Budget Control Act was deficit reduction, the law also allows for several cap adjustments to increase spend… Continue Reading
02.04.19
Chairman Enzi Questions Census Bureau About Controlling Costs for 2020 Census
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) is questioning Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham about the Bureau's plans to control the cost of the 2020 Census. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) placed the 2020 Census on its high-risk list because of concerns with the development and security of information technology (IT) systems and unreliable cost estimates. "The 2010 Census was the most expensive in history, costing about $12.3 billion. With the 2020 C… Continue Reading
01.29.19
Chairman Enzi: CBO Report Highlights Need for Congress to Confront Out of Control Spending
WASHINGTON D.C. - During a Senate Budget Committee hearing on the Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook for fiscal years 2019 through 2029, Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) said the CBO report highlights the need for Congress to confront the threat of the nation's out of control spending. "Trillion dollar deficits are within sight, they are real, and it is time for us all to have an honest conversation as to how we are going to address them," said Chairman Enzi. "I believe that m… Continue Reading
01.09.19
Enzi Returns as Senate Budget Committee Chairman, Welcomes Senators Braun, Scott, and Cramer
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) today was again elected by his colleagues as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and welcomed new GOP Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to serve on the Committee during the 116th Congress. "I am honored to return as chair of the Senate Budget Committee as we focus on addressing the debt and overspending challenges facing our country," said Chairman Enzi. "I will continue to lead the charge to fix the broken bu… Continue Reading
12.19.18
Enzi Pressing Customs and Border Protection Over Millions Wasted on Hiring Contracts
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, is pressing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan for more information about a CBP hiring contract worth millions of dollars that only resulted in two new agency hires. The Homeland Security Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently found that CBP paid a private contractor millions to help hire 7,500 Border Patrol agents and officers, but the contractor only hired tw… Continue Reading
12.18.18
Chairman Enzi: Budget Process Reform Efforts Will Continue
WASHINGTON D.C. - During a speech on the floor of the United States Senate, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, outlined his plans to begin fixing the broken budget and appropriations process in the new Congress. "I have always believed that changes to the broken budget and spending process must be guided by two core principles. Reforms should end brinksmanship and the threat of government shutdowns, and they should guide us to create enforceable plans to stop th… Continue Reading
12.12.18
Chairman Enzi: More Action Needed from VA on GI Benefits Problems
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) today said more action is needed from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on problems that have prevented thousands of veterans from receiving their full GI Bill benefits. Since August 1, hundreds of thousands of veterans have either not received their monthly housing allowance (MHA) for the fall 2018 semester or received an incorrect amount. Chairman Enzi pressed the agency recently on what actions it was taking to addres… Continue Reading
11.29.18
Chairman Enzi Concerned with Excessive Markups on FEMA Hurricane Relief Funds
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long expressing his concerns about significantly marked-up prices FEMA contractors charged for repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Maria. Recent news stories report that more than 60 percent of what a FEMA-supported program spends on repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Maria is spent on overhead and markups, rather than a… Continue Reading
11.19.18
Enzi Presses Veterans Affairs for Answers on Problems with GI Benefits
WASHINGTON D.C. - After recent reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) information technology (IT) systems have prevented thousands of veterans from receiving their full GI Bill benefits, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) pressed the agency on what actions it was taking to address this significant problem. Since August 1, hundreds of thousands of veterans have either not received their monthly housing allowance for the fall 2018 semester or received an incorrect am… Continue Reading
