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LEGISLATIVE ALERT4/3/2006House Budget Vote Expected This WeekCall Your Member of Congress
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a budget resolution for FY 2007 this week. Please call your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and tell them to oppose the resolution that was passed by the House Budget Committee.
ACTION REQUIRED*Call your U.S. Representative this week. You can call toll-free at 800-459-1887 or you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to the offices of your Senators and Representative.
*Once you make your call, please send this Legislative Alert to others you know who care about children and families, and urge them to take similar action.
MESSAGE* Vote against the budget resolution passed by the House Budget Committee last week. It will force cuts to SSBG, many children’s programs including child care, and juvenile justice, and propose additional cuts to entitlement programs.
Thank you for your continued advocacy. *For a more detailed description of the House and White House proposed cuts to SSBG or visit
CWLA's Legislative Agenda or contact Tim Briceland-Betts, CWLA's Co-Director of Government Affairs, at 202-942-0256
BACKGROUNDOn Wednesday, March 29 the House Budget Committee adopted a budget resolution that follows most of the President’s 2007 proposed spending levels. The resolution does not include the proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid but does include a discretionary funding level of $873 billion, the same as the Administration’s request. The funding level in the House resolution and in the administration’s budget also proposes an increase of 7 percent for the Defense Department. In effect such a proposal, if adopted would require cuts to many domestic programs since the Defense budget makes up more than half the discretionary spending. Discretionary spending must be approved by appropriators each year and it covers programs such as child care, Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) and many other children’s programs.
The House resolution also includes $6.8 billion in benefit cuts from mandatory programs. The House resolution does not provide the level of funding that the Senate-passed resolution does. It also assumes the President’s proposed cut of $500 million to the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).
It is unclear if an amendment will be offered on the House floor to the budget resolution to add funds. Some House Republicans want further cuts while another group is negotiating for fewer cuts.
Our task now is to urge members to vote against the budget resolution unless it provides more funding to vital programs and rejects the cut to SSBG.
© Child Welfare League of America. The content of these publications may not be reproduced in any way, including posting on the Internet, without the permission of CWLA. For permission to use material from CWLA's website or publications, contact us using our website assistance form.
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