Congressman Peters knows that our nation’s debt is becoming unsustainable. That’s why he launched the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum because we need to proactively address our fiscal health so we can focus on investing in America’s working families, climate action, healthcare, etc.
Read more about the group’s priorities in this July 13th piece from Politico, posted below:
A bipartisan group in the House calling itself the BFF wants their colleagues thinking about the future of U.S. debt, not just when there’s a crisis afoot
By Katherine Tully-McManus
July 13, 2023
When it comes to thinking about debt on the Hill, one group is hoping solutions may come from BFFs.
Details: Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) are publicly launching the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum (BFF), a group a group they say is “dedicated to sounding the alarm about our nation’s unsustainable debt trajectory and working together to get control of our fiscal future.”
The group started getting together informally in 2020 to toss around ideas to address the federal debt and the anticipated point when interest payments eclipse defense as the nation’s biggest expense. The group isn’t releasing its official roster, but touts that “more than 70 current members of Congress have participated in BFF activities.”
Who’s steering the so-called-BFF? The steering committee includes:
Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.)
Ed Case (D-Hawaii)
Ron Estes (R-Kan.)
Jared Golden (D-Maine)
Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.)
Bill Johnson (R-Ohio)
Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Blake Moore (R-Utah)
Leader letter: Peters, Huizenga and the steering committee sent a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries positioning themselves as a key group on the debt issue.
“We were encouraged by Speaker McCarthy’s recent suggestion to create a fiscal commission focused on exploring and addressing our long-term debt and deficit issues. The Bipartisan Fiscal Forum stands ready to assist, leaning on our shared values of mutual respect, bipartisan cooperation, and commitment to fiscal responsibility,” the group wrote.
Points of agreement: The group released their guiding principles as they endeavor to make changes to the budget process:
- “Debt costs threaten our collective future.”
- “Durable solutions need bipartisan support.”
- “Members should focus on putting forward solutions and not tearing each other down.”