Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz joined a bipartisan coalition of members, led by Reps. Heath Shuler (D-NC) and Mike Simpson (R-ID, calling on the Joint Selection Committee on Deficit Reduction to work toward a goal of $4 trillion rather than the $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction as required under the Budget Control Act. A group of 100 Republican and Democratic members of Congress signed a letter sent to the Super Committee on this matter. The text of this letter and signatories follow at the close of the release.

As the second ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, Schwartz has been outspoken about the need for substantial deficit reduction and has voted this year for trillions in spending cuts. The Pennsylvania Congresswoman has taken a leadership role on bipartisan efforts urging the Super Committee to make tough decisions to put America back on track.

Schwartz is spearheading an effort calling on the Super Committee to repeal the Medicare physician payment formula known as the sustainable growth rate (SGR). More than 115 members from both sides of the aisle signed on to a letter sent by Schwartz and Rep. Roe (R-TN) to the Super Committee.  

“The Super Committee should take bold action to ensure a robust economic recovery and substantial deficit reduction,” Schwartz said. “There is bipartisan agreement that the Super Committee must put forward a plan that not only takes a balanced approach, but is truly groundbreaking in terms of deficit reduction aimed at $4 trillion. We have a rare opportunity to move our country forward, and I hope that the Super Committee acts in a manner that puts our nation, not politics first.”

The text and signatories of the letter follows:

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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Honorable Jeb Hensarling                                    The Honorable Patty Murray

Co-Chair, Joint Select Committee on                         Co-Chair, Joint Select Committee on

Deficit Reduction                                                       Deficit Reduction

129 Cannon House Office Building                           448 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20510

Dear Congressman Hensarling, Senator Murray, and Members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction,

We write to you as a bipartisan group of representatives from across the political spectrum in the belief that the success of your committee is vital to our country’s future.  We know that many in Washington and around the country do not believe we in the Congress and those within your committee can successfully meet this challenge.  We believe that we can and we must.

To succeed, all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table.  In addition, we know from other bipartisan frameworks that a target of some $4 trillion in deficit reduction is necessary to stabilize our debt as a share of the economy and assure America’s fiscal well-being.

Our country needs our honest, bipartisan judgment and our political courage.  Your committee has been given a unique opportunity and authority to act.  We are prepared to support you in this effort.

Sincerely,

Rep. Andrews (D-NJ)

Rep. Barrow (D-GA)

Rep. Bass (R-NH)

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY)

Rep. Boren (D-OK)

Rep. Boswell (D-IA)

Rep. Cardoza (D-CA)

Rep. Carney (D-DE)

Rep. Carter (R-TX)

Rep. Castor (D-FL)

Rep. Chandler (D-KY)

Rep. Cleaver (D-MO)

Rep. Coble (R-NC)

Rep. Cole (R-OK)

Rep. Connolly (D-VA)

Rep. Cooper (D-TN)

Rep. Costa (D-CA)

Rep. Crenshaw (R-FL)

Rep. Cuellar (D-TX)

Rep. Davis (D-IL)

Rep. DeFazio (D-OR)

Rep. DeGette (D-CO)

Rep. Dent (R-PA)

Rep. Dicks (D-WA)

Rep. Dold (R-IL)

Rep. Duncan (R-TN)

Rep. Emerson (R-MO)

Rep. Fattah (D-PA)

Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Rep. Fortenberry (R-NE)

Rep. Garamendi (D-CA)

Rep. Gosar (R-AZ)

Rep. Grimm (R-NY)

Rep. Hanna (R-NY)

Rep. Harper (R-MS)

Rep. Higgins (D-NY)

Rep. Himes (D-CT)

Rep. Hoyer (D-MD)

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)

Rep. Kildee (D-MI)

Rep. Kind (D-WI)

Rep. King, Peter (R-NY)

Rep. Kingston (R-GA)

Rep. Larsen (D-WA)

Rep. Larson (D-CT)

Rep. LaTourette (R-OH)

Rep. Lipinski (D-IL)

Rep. Loebsack (D-IA)

Rep. Long (R-MO)

Rep. Lummis (R-WY)

Rep. Maloney (D-NY)

Rep. Marino (R-PA)

Rep. Matheson (D-UT)

Rep. McIntyre (D-NC)

Rep. McKinley (R-WV)

Rep. Meehan (R-PA) 

Rep. Meeks (D-NY)

Rep. Moran (D-VA)

Rep. Nunes (R-CA)

Rep. Owens (D-NY)

Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Perlmutter (D-CO)

Rep. Peters (D-MI)

Rep. Peterson (D-MN)

Rep. Petri (R-WI)

Rep. Pingree (D-ME)

Rep. Platts (R-PA)

Rep. Polis (D-CO)

Rep. Price, David (D-NC)

Rep. Quigley (D-IL)

Rep. Rahall (D-WV)

Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY)

Rep. Ribble (R-WI)

Rep. Roe (R-TN)

Rep. Rooney (R-FL)

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)

Rep. Rothman (D-NJ)

Rep. Ruppersberger (D-MD)

Rep. Schiff (D-CA)

Rep. Schrader (D-OR)

Rep. Schwartz (D-PA)

Rep. Sewell (D-AL)

Rep. Shuler (D-NC)

Rep. Simpson (R-ID)

Rep Adam Smith (D-WA)

Rep. Stutzman (R-IN)

Rep. Sullivan (R-OK)

Rep. Terry (R-NE)

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA)

Rep. Tsongas (D-MA)

Rep. Bob Turner (R-NY)

Rep. Visclosky (D-IN)

Rep. Walz (D-MN)

Rep. Watt (D-NC)

Rep. Welch (D-VT)

Rep. Whitfield (R-KY)

Rep. Wolf (R-VA)

Rep. Yarmuth (D-KY)

Rep. Young (R-AK)

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