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WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko voted tonight to advance the Bipartisan Budget Act and avoid a catastrophic default on America’s debt while also calling out the GOP-mandated provisions that would, among other things, slash environmental protection policies, cut SNAP food assistance, and allow wealthy tax cheats to avoid paying their fair share.

“Republicans in Congress manufactured this debt ceiling crisis by threatening to tank the global economy unless President Biden agreed to their unrelated demands to cut assistance for the hungry, protect wealthy tax cheats, and weaken environmental laws for their fossil fuel allies. The Chair of the Republican National Committee even argued that while a default would be bad for the American people, it would be good for Republicans politically.

“These are not serious people. Their brinkmanship shows a callous disregard for our economy and the livelihoods of working Americans.

“I applaud President Biden for charting a course away from default and mitigating the worst of the hostage takers’ demands. Thanks to the President’s steadfast leadership, critical programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Veterans health care are fully protected in this agreement.

“While Republican-sought provisions in this legislation will be actively harmful to working families and the environment, these effects pale in comparison to the devastating impact that a default would have on these same people and our economy as a whole. In supporting this bill, I am choosing between the lesser of two evils.

“We simply can’t roll back the economic progress we have made under President Biden.

“For these reasons, I voted YES on the Bipartisan Budget Act.”