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URGENT ACTION ALERT
Calls Needed Now!
PROTECT PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR FROM BUDGET CUTS
January 27, 2006
BACKGROUND
The House of Representatives must vote on the budget reconciliation bill (S 1932) because of changes in the conference report made by the Senate in December.
This vote is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1.
The final budget reconciliation conference agreement coming once again before the House of Representatives includes provisions that many believe could be harmful to many low-income children, families, elderly and people with disabilities who are least able to provide for themselves.Of particular concern to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are:
· Increased Medicaid cost-sharing burdens and eroding federal benefit standards which can result in low-income children, families, pregnant women, elderly and those with disabilities not getting the care they need.
· Cuts to child support enforcement, which will mean collecting billions less in child support for children and families than under current law
· TANF-related provisions, including:
-- immediate and significant changes in state TANF work rules (although additional proposals to increase hours worked per week were wisely abandoned) without providing sufficient additional funding needed to run work programs and provide child care. This will mean states may have to choose between cutting child care for low-income working families, reducing other services for low-income people, or cutting back on cash assistance for needy families;
-- policies that could have the effect of disadvantaging two-parent families and married couples; and
-- failure to restore TANF benefit eligibility to recently-arrived legal immigrants.
· Cuts to key agriculture conservation programs, which will undermine efforts to promote soil conservation, improve water quality, protect wildlife, and maintain biodiversity.
Calls to Representatives are needed immediately!
ACTION REQUESTED:
Call your U.S. Representative ask them to oppose the budget reconciliation conference agreement
Toll-free at 800-426-8073
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