John,

President Biden has suggested that Congress must abide by this simple principle: No budget cuts or policy changes that increase poverty or take away health care and food assistance from people who count on them.¹

Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy’s bill, which some are calling the Default on America Act (DOA), is a right-wing wish list of cuts and bureaucratic hurdles to aid that will cause pain for millions of working and low-income people, including children, seniors, and veterans.

In addition to harsh limits on SNAP and Medicaid benefits, Speaker McCarthy and his caucus want to impose new restrictions in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families that could deny even minimal aid to one million children. They say they are aimed at requiring work, but don’t be fooled -- they are roadblocks to aid that many people who need help won’t be able to clear.

Next week, President Biden is hosting members of Congress at the White House to discuss the debt ceiling impasse and he has already drawn his line in the sand:

“Here’s the deal: If Republicans try to take away people’s healthcare, increase costs for middle-class families, or push Americans into poverty, I’m going to stop them. I’m going to stop them.”

We’re rallying our allies across the country ahead of next Tuesday’s White House meeting -- directing thousands of messages to senators to not negotiate with hostage takers. We’re demanding a clean debt ceiling increase before a potential default on June 1, which would cause massive economic disruption and hardship.

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If Congress fails to pass a clean debt ceiling increase before the debt limit deadline, we will see delays in Social Security checks, veterans benefits, paychecks for civil servants and active duty military members -- and at least 1 million people could lose their jobs.²

That’s why we’re demanding a clean debt ceiling increase with no cuts to critical programs. We know that when the rich and corporations pay their fair share in taxes, we can expand, not cut, programs and services for our communities and our families.

Thank you,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Remarks by President Biden on the Economy
² 5 ways a debt default could affect you