REED OUTLINES PRIORITES FOR 23RD DISTRICT IN 113th CONGRESS

 Calling accessibility his top priority, Rep. Tom Reed today outlined his goals for the new 23rd District and the 113th Congress.

“As we kick off our new term as representative for the 23rd District, I want to reiterate our office and legislative priorities,” Reed said. “Our first purpose is to be a resource for everyone in our district. Last session, our office opened more than 3,500 constituent cases and we will continue to maintain and improve upon that level of assistance in this new term.

“We surpassed our goal of holding 75 public town hall meetings during the last session and we’ll continue that type of town hall activity and overall accessibility to the people of the 23rd District.”

Reed is holding his first four town halls of the 113th Congress this weekend in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

On the legislative front, Reed says he will maintain his focus on job creation and addressing spending while taking a proactive and preventive approach to the entitlement crisis. Reed says it is important constituents understand that both Medicare and Social Security are on a path to bankruptcy.

“It is not a question of if, but rather when these programs run out – unless we take steps now to reform and save them,” Reed continued. “Individuals are paying directly into these programs and they are entitled to their benefits. The focus should be on reforms that do not affect those who currently receive or will soon be receiving benefits, but those who are a generation out. That way, they can plan with certainty. If we act preventively, we can stabilize the programs and get them on firm ground.” 

Reed also stressed the importance of getting comprehensive tax reform legislation through the Ways and Means Committee and to the floor of the House. “A large part of our overall economic success will depend on comprehensive tax reform and I look forward to joining Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp in working toward comprehensive tax reform legislation this session.”  

Reed was sworn into the 113th Congress on Thursday, January 3, 2013 by House Speaker John Boehner and begins a two-year term representing New York’s newly-drawn 23rd Congressional District.  

#####