Contact: Chris Gallegos
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today voted with a majority of Senators in supporting a Sense of the Senate Resolution that recommends at least a five percent cut to the budget of the U.S. Senate.

The resolution states that the Senate “should lead by example and reduce the budget of the Senate by at least five percent” and that “offices and agencies that serve Members of Congress must be reduced along with the rest of the budget.”  Approved on a 98-1 vote, the measure could amount to an estimated $20 million in savings this year.

“The spending cut endorsed by this resolution sends a message that the Senate itself is ready to reduce its own expenditures to help reduce federal spending.  My office typically returns between 5 and 10 percent of its annual budget, and I have instructed my staff members to carry out their duties more frugally,” Cochran said.

“Congress and the Obama administration still face more difficult choices to make any real progress in bringing down the federal debt,” he said.

The resolution was added as an amendment to the Small Business Innovation and Research Reauthorization Bill (S.493) being debated on the Senate floor.  The resolution, sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), is similar to a resolution (S.Res.94) authored by Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) earlier this year.