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Friends,
As you’ve seen in the news, Congress is moving forward with a spending bill that could override DC’s locally funded budget. This is an overreach in power that we have not seen in Children’s Law Center’s history.
What does this mean? If it passes, it will force DC to revert to its previous fiscal year 2024 budget, resulting in an immediate $1.1 billion deficit. This drastic measure would force severe cuts across our city’s essential services:
- Schools will face a $350 million reduction,
- Police will see a $67 million cut,
- Emergency services will need to address a decrease of $42 million, and
- Our Department of Human Services—which provides critical support for housing and people experiencing homelessness—will lose $28 million.
This would have a profound and detrimental impact on DC children and families, jeopardizing their access to education, healthcare and vital social services. Read more on the bill and its impact on DC here.
DC children should not be put in the middle of our national politics.
If you want to help, local organizations have created a quick toolkit to help get the word out to senators: Call and email your senators today and tomorrow morning.
If you are in DC, children and families are gathering for a kid-friendly event at the Capitol tomorrow morning on DC Public Schools’ day off: Attend “Recess at the Capitol to Protect Our Schools” on Thursday, March 13 at 10am.
I appreciate, as always, your commitment to our work and to DC children and families.
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With gratitude,
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