Rep. Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh) says he is returning roughly $75,000 of his 2012 congressional office budget to the United States Treasury.

This is the fourth year in a row that Owens has returned surplus office funds to the government.

“Members of Congress must be responsible stewards of their own budget, especially as we look for ways to reduce the deficit and cut federal spending,” Owens said. “Effective management is key to making government work better across the board, and I remain fully committed to responsible efforts large and small to get America’s fiscal house in order.”

In all, Owens has returned over $400,000 from his house budget since taking office. He will return the $75,000 in addition to a 6.4 percent congressional budget cut enacted with Owens’ support last year as part of the 2012 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act.

Owens has cosponsored legislation to cut his and his colleagues’ salaries, voted twice to freeze cost-of-living-adjustments for members of Congress, and co-sponsored legislation to block member pay if budget and appropriations work isn’t done on time.