Jan 18, 2007- House Leaders Appoint Kaptur To Prestigious Budget Committee

Congresswoman Kaptur, who is currently serving her 13th term from Ohio's NinthCongressional District, was one of 21 Democrats who Speaker of the House NancyPelosi (D-CA) named to the panel.

"Our nation faces daunting fiscal challenges," said CongresswomanKaptur. "I am looking forward to this opportunity to work with ChairmanJohn Spratt (D-NC) in a bipartisan manner to meet those challenges."

Congresswoman Kaptur also serves on the powerful House AppropriationsCommittee, including the Defense subcommittee. A longtime proponent of fairinternational trade laws, Congresswoman Kaptur also previously served on theHouse Banking Committee.

Congresswoman Kaptur noted that her membership on both the AppropriationsCommittee and the Budget Committee will give her a unique perspective onfederal fiscal issues. She said she intends to continue her emphasis on fiscalresponsibility coupled with intelligent national investments in both human andphysical infrastructure.

"We have to create the structures that will foster job growth andeconomic development so we can build our nation forward and compete effectivelyin the 21st Century," Kaptur said. "The opportunity to serve on boththe Appropriations Committee and the Budget Committee will give me a voice inthose crucial long-term decisions about our nation's economic future."

The House Budget Committee, which was established in 1974, is responsiblefor drafting the nation's annual budget in concert with its Senate counterpart.The Committee is working to set budget policies to eliminate the deficit, whichcurrently soars at more than $300 billion, and to pay off the national debt,which exceeded $8 trillion for the most recent fiscal year. The committee alsomonitors action on the budget for the federal government.