WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Fix the Debt, a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, recognized Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) as a Fiscal Hero for 2022. Fiscal Heroes are awarded each Congress, recognizing policymakers who work to improve our nation's fiscal situation and fix the budget process. Phillips is one of only seven House Democrats to receive the honor in the 117^th Congress.

“We’re on a dangerous fiscal path,” said Phillips. “Soon, we’ll be spending more on our debt service than we’re able to invest in the health, education, infrastructure, and future of America. I’m proud to accept the Fiscal Hero award for the second time and call on people of all political perspectives to inject more fiscal responsibility into our national discourse.”

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal budget, Fiscal Heroes have distinguished themselves by pushing their party leaders to make debt a priority, leading bipartisan efforts to work through policy options to fix the debt and the budget process, taking responsible votes, using their town hall meetings to engage and educate constituents, advocating to keep tough fiscal choices on the table, and introducing legislation to improve the budget process and America’s fiscal position.

“With inflation at a 40-year high, the national debt reaching near-record levels, and our major trust funds facing looming insolvency over the next decade, our country faces daunting fiscal challenges,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and head of Fix the Debt. “Addressing our fiscal challenges requires policymakers in Washington who distinguish themselves by their leadership and political courage, and our Fiscal Heroes are doing just that. We applaud our Fiscal Heroes for their commitment to getting our nation on a more sustainable fiscal path.”

This year’s Fiscal Hero honorees are a bipartisan group of 19 Senators and 31 House Members. Phillips also received this recognition in the 116^th Congress, his first term.

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