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Trump Budget Puts American Families Last

May 26, 2017
E-Newsletters

Dear Friend,

Unfortunately, the release of President Trump's budget proposal earlier this week further proves what we have known all along – he will consistently prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of forward-thinking investments that strengthen families and spur economic growth. From healthcare and critical infrastructure to services and resources for our most vulnerable, this budget relies on far-reaching and detrimental cuts that will have a long-lasting impact on every aspect of our society. See below for a look at a few of the many provisions in the Trump Budget that will harm the hardworking Americans who make our country great.

Click here to read my full statement on the Trump Budget.

Healthcare

President Trump's budget defunds all of the Affordable Care Act, stripping quality and affordable health care from tens of millions. It's deeply harmful to women and children's health, singling out Planned Parenthood—the first time in history an individual provider has been explicitly named and prohibited from accessing federal funding. Additionally, it defunds the Title X teen pregnancy prevention program and under funds preventative cancer screenings, HIV/AIDS testing and prevention and maternal and child health programs, to name a few.

Seniors

Our seniors also aren't safe from the Trump Budget. It proposes eliminating senior employment programs that provide older, low-income Americans with on-the-job-training to help place them in good-paying jobs. Additionally, it eliminates funding used to support the Meals on Wheels program, as well as a home energy assistance program that helps pay heating bills for millions of seniors.

The Most Vulnerable

This devastating budget doesn't just roll back Medicaid expansion; it cuts the entire program by fifty percent, resulting in lower funding levels than before the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. Factor in equally malicious cuts to food assistance, low-income support, and disability benefits, and the budget makes those struggling to get by one of its biggest targets.

Environment

Climate change is one of the greatest threats we face, and we know that it will take immediate, substantial action to ensure our planet is sustainable for future generations. The proposed budget makes severe cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), conservation programs like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and pollution control agencies. It also eliminates funding for the Great Lakes, one of Chicago's greatest economic resources.

Infrastructure

Now more than ever, it is important to invest in long-term projects seeking to modernize our national infrastructure, provide efficient and safe transportation of goods and people, and reduce congestion and pollution. Yet, President Trump's budget slashes funding for vital transportation grants like Core Capacity, eliminates the highly successful TIGER grant program that has been used to support Metra, and even strips money from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Education

This proposal also fails the next generation of leaders, as well as the teachers who help them learn and grow, by imposing massive cuts to the Education Department and significantly reducing grants for public schools and student aid programs. This Trump-DeVos budget cuts IDEA funding for students with disabilities by $113 million and reduces opportunities for teachers and future teachers to access quality higher education.

National Security

The proposed 30% cut to the State Department and additional cuts to embassy security, international organizations, and foreign aid weakens our influence abroad and will be detrimental to the security of our nation. The Trump Budget also hinders the security of this country by prioritizing a wasteful border wall over agencies and programs we know keep Americans safe.

Financial Regulations

The Trump Budget repeals the Dodd-Frank Act—the landmark reform bill passed to reduce systemic risk and stabilize our financial markets—and would impose drastic changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is tasked with combating predatory lending and fraud to protect Americans.

The President's broken promises are made very clear in this budget, and I will work with my colleagues in Congress to fight against this proposal and ensure hardworking Americans are put first.

Sincerely,


Mike Quigley

Issues:Defense & National SecurityEnergy / Environment