Today, Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) voted for the Bipartisan Budget Agreement reached by the White House and House Republicans to raise the debt ceiling, avoid economic catastrophe, and protect key services that millions of working families rely on.

“A default would be devastating for South Jersey and the country. I am glad that both sides were able to come together and agree on a practical, bipartisan solution to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic, job-killing default,” Rep. Norcross said. “While no deal is perfect, the Bipartisan Budget Agreement prevents default, protects Medicare and Social Security, invests in our military, expands SNAP eligibility, and ensures veterans, working families, and children have the critical services they need. The full faith and credit of the United States should never be political. That’s why I voted for the Bipartisan Budget Agreement today to prevent default and protect key services that millions of Americans rely on every day.”

Additional background information:

• Protects non-defense spending: When factoring in agreed-upon appropriations adjustments, the deal holds non-defense spending roughly flat in 2024 and increases it by 1% in 2025. That’s slightly better than what would have happened to non-defense spending if Congress had failed to reach a budget agreement and enacted a full-year continuing resolution.
• Fully funds Veterans medical care: The agreement fully funds medical care for veterans, including the funding the PACT Act’s toxic exposure fund (TEF) at the levels included in President Biden’s FY2024 budget. The TEF funding will increase by nearly $15 billion in FY2024 over enacted levels. The agreement includes stable, and secure funding for the TEF in both 2024 and 2025.
• Invests in our Armed Forces: The agreement invests in our armed forces and ensures they have the funding, tools, and resources they need to defend our nation against threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The defense budget will increase 3.3% for Fiscal Year 2024, and it authorizes increases investments in defense by 1% for FY 2025.
• Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF: The agreement does not include changes that would have put Medicaid at risk for 21 million Americans. The bill includes major eligibility expansions that will reduce the number of vulnerable people of all ages subject to SNAP time limits, including veterans, people who are homeless, and others. The combined effect of these provisions is that the number of people subject to SNAP work requirements will likely stay roughly the same. It also prevents TANF changes that would have jeopardized the ability of states to support vulnerable children.
• Energy and environment: The Inflation Reduction Act' s historic climate provisions are protected. The agreement keeps the country moving in the direction of a clean energy economy and maintains environmental justice investments and substantive environmental protections across clean air, water, and communities.

More information on the Bipartisan Budget Agreement can be found here.