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Dear Friends,
As you may all know, sequestration is set to begin March 1. These cuts will vary by region; however, they will drastically impact the nation’s economic growth. Even before the sequestration starts, cuts in federal spending have already taken effect due to the Budget Control Act (BCA) and, I want to share with you a list of discretionary spending reductions that started to take place in 2010. These cuts are projected to reduce economic spending over the next 10 years according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
• Education: Nearly two million students will go unserved by Title I aid after 10 years of Budget Control Act caps. Additionally, states will lose billions over 10 years and absorb cost of educating 600,000 more special needs students. Reductions to Pell grant, Head Start Program, and other student aid (e.g. job training) are already taking place;
• Social Services: 1.1 million fewer households received home energy assistance in 2012 as oil prices rose 31%. Construction of new housing units for the elderly has halted. Child care services and other programs such as WIC are being significantly reduced;
• Health: funding for the National Institute of Health adjusted for inflation cut 8% since 2010, reducing number and size of research grants, health workforce programs, mental health, HIV/AIDS care and community health centers;
• Public Safety: cuts to air traffic control, public health, assistance to state and local law enforcement are already taking place. Emergency responders (FEMA) were cut 55% from 2010-2012. These cuts will reduce in 2013 food safety and import inspection by 24%;
• Water and Environment: cuts to USDA Rural Development and Army Corps of Engineers water and wastewater projects to our communities, reductions in funding to our national parks which may limit access for tourists;
• Science & Defense: cuts taking place prior to sequestration include passport and visa services, NASA, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS Science and Technology Directorate. Reductions totaling $626 billion to the Department of Defense.
I believe it is critically important to find a bipartisan approach to avoid additional cuts under sequestration. We cannot afford to jeopardize our children, our seniors, our military, and our hard working middle class families that greatly contribute to our economy by allowing sequestration to go into effect next month. My commitment to the troops and a strong national defense has never wavered. I do not see an easy way forward, however I am committed to work with both chambers to ensure that we rein in government spending and seek to balance our budget in the best interest for the American people. Please follow this link to access the White House “Fact Sheet” on how the sequester will impact the middle class: 1.usa.gov/TUTd9S. You can also find additional information discretionary spending reduction here: http://1.usa.gov/YHweOB.
Sincerely,
Congressman Henry Cuellar
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