John,

Due to rising costs on everything from food to energy to housing, congressional funding on programs targeted to people’s needs has lost 9% of its value over the last 12 years with many programs losing far more. And with higher inflation, flat funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill would amount to even deeper cuts to critical programs for those most in need.

With only a couple of weeks left for Congress to act―before a new Congress is sworn in in January―we’re demanding the House and Senate pass a full-year omnibus appropriations bill now that includes increases in spending on critically needed programs.

Some members, like expected 2023 House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, want to block increases to domestic investments. They want to freeze funding. But in a time of rising prices and growing need, flat funding is a harsh cut―one that will lead to more homelessness, less mental health and substance use treatment, less help for children to overcome pandemic education losses, and less job training for workers.

Click here to send a message to your senators and representative now and urge them to act quickly to increase funding for housing assistance, education, low-income heating assistance, health care and more. With divided government starting in January, next year will be too late.

Rising prices have resulted in the average family’s costs rising approximately $433 per month from the year before. Last year more than 40% of people with household incomes of less than $50,000 were paying half or more of their income on rent.

With eviction rates back to pre-pandemic levels, with Black and Latino people facing disproportionately higher rates, and rents rising, we’re demanding critical investments to address the affordable housing crisis.

In the midst of a spike in mental health problems for children, Children’s Mental Health funding has dropped 18% since FY2010. At the same time, education funds for our most vulnerable children, youth, and adults have declined.

As prices remain high on home heating fuels, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has seen its funding plummet by 40% since 2010, taking inflation into account.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, families struggled to find affordable, high-quality child care. This has been exacerbated over the last two years, forcing many parents―primarily women―out of the workforce in order to care for young children.

Last year’s appropriations bill made important long-awaited progress, but some in Congress want to roll that back. We can’t let them block the investments we need by freezing the funds.

Congress has only two weeks left to act before they adjourn for the year―and before we face divided government, starting next month. Click here to send a message to your senators and representative to pass a full-year omnibus appropriations bill now that includes increases in spending on critically needed programs.

The dire effects of the pandemic will be felt for years to come and without investments in our future, we risk backsliding, further exacerbating racial wealth and income gaps.

Thank you for taking action today.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs