November 4, 2023
Dear Friends,
After weeks of paralysis and gridlock caused by House Republicans’ inability to govern, I was thrilled this week to finally be able to get back to the business of delivering for the American people. We have a wide array of items on our agenda, from dealing with international crises in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine to advancing a new Farm Bill and passing strong legislation to fund the essential programs American families rely on.
Less than two weeks from the deadline to avoid a devastating government shutdown, my Democratic colleagues and I remain ready to put people over politics and work with our Republican counterparts to find common-sense solutions. But on that front, the tenure of new House Speaker Mike Johnson is not off to a promising start.
Two weeks ago, President Biden asked Congress to provide emergency supplemental funding to address a series of pressing issues around the globe. With a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Israel and Gaza while our Ukrainian allies fight a counteroffensive against Russian aggression, this funding is critical not only to supporting our allies but also to bolstering our own national security. But rather than working with Democrats to advance a package that could quickly be signed into law, House Republicans are instead pushing an incomplete, highly partisan bill that aims to exploit the horrific conflict and pain in Israel and Gaza as an excuse to pursue harmful cuts to other programs and make it easier for their billionaire backers to cheat on their taxes.
Not only does the GOP legislation deny assistance to Ukraine and urgently needed humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, it would also add billions to our national deficit. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Republican proposal to condition assistance to Israel on a $14.5 billion cut to funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would actually add $12.5 billion to the federal deficit. By attempting to use this ongoing crisis to fulfill their long-held goal of crippling the IRS’s ability to collect taxes from the wealthiest Americans, Republicans are simultaneously abdicating our nation’s responsibilities on the international stage and making a mockery of their claims to support “fiscal responsibility.”
Even as they fail to confront the pressing challenges we face across the globe, Republicans are also sleepwalking toward a crisis of their own making here at home. Back in May, President Biden met with House Republicans to negotiate the Fiscal Responsibility Act, a bipartisan budget agreement that avoided a breach of the debt ceiling through a common-sense compromise on future federal spending levels. Speaker Johnson even voted in favor of that agreement. But now, less than two weeks from a government shutdown that would inflict real harm on millions of Americans, Republicans are abandoning that deal and pressing forward with budget legislation filled with discriminatory measures and draconian cuts to critical government programs.
Among countless other devastating cutbacks, the latest Republican proposals would:
- Slash funding for Amtrak by 64 percent and reduce or eliminate service on most routes across the country, including eviscerating funding for the Northeast Corridor with a 92 percent cut;
- Eliminate $546 million in funding to remove lead from the homes of low-income families, leaving approximately 33,000 homes and 46,000 children exposed to dangerous levels of lead;
- Cut funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 39 percent, crippling our national response to the climate crisis by hindering efforts to reduce carbon emissions and support community resiliency programs;
- Impose a more than 90 percent cut to the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, stripping more than $103 million from New York State’s allocation and making it harder for Americans to access clean and safe drinking water;
- Create a license to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans under the guise of religious liberty while prohibiting funding for initiatives that improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in federal agencies.
Republicans know these bills have no chance of passing through the Senate and becoming law. But instead of working in a bipartisan manner to avert a looming government shutdown and provide emergency national security funding, they are wasting time advancing partisan bills that serve only to placate the far-right wing of their party. House Democrats are ready to come together to address the priorities of the American people and the needs of our allies. In this time of crisis, it is time for Republicans to stop the political games and start working to find real solutions.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from state and federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- In celebration of the 30-year anniversary of AmeriCorps, the SUNY system has announced that 15 SUNY colleges and universities have been recognized as AmeriCorps “Schools of National Service.”
- Institutions designated as “Schools of National Service” will offer incentives such as in-state tuition matches, scholarships, and enrollment deferrals.
- As part of last week’s announcement, SUNY has introduced a system-wide application fee waiver for AmeriCorps alumni applying to SUNY campuses, offering a savings of $350.
- Additional benefits for AmeriCorps alumni at the University at Albany include a one-year enrollment deferral, priority admissions consideration, and a $1,000 scholarship for up to 5 alumni.
- You can click HERE to learn more about SUNY’s commitment to AmeriCorps members.
- For more information about how to get involved with AmeriCorps, click HERE.
