dfriesen at csi.com
03-12-1999, 09:36 AM
TO: DOMESTIC ECONOMIC JUSTICE ADVOCATES
FROM: RACHELLE SCHLABACH AND ELIZABETH YU (MCC WASHINGTON OFFICE)
DATE: MARCH 11, 1999
RE: EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL (S. 544)
Forwarded by: Daniel Friesen - dfriesen@csi.com, CRWRC Southwest, Gallup, NM
ISSUE: On March 4, the Senate Appropriations Committee, by a vote of
28-0,
approved a $1.9 billion Emergency Supplemental package to aid Central
American
countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, aid for U.S. farmers and new economic
and
military assistance for Jordan. The Committee chose to ?offset? (take
funds
from other budget sources) the amount in part, by cutting domestic programs,
such as $262 million from food stamps, $350 million from TANF, Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (state welfare block grants) and $314 million
from
community development block grants. The Committee reasoned that these
domestic funds are ?available? because not all States have fully implemented
their programs, such as TANF, and the funds are lying unspent.
The Committee?s financing of the emergency supplemental bill by drastic cuts
to
domestic poverty programs is flawed for the following reasons:
1. While a humanitarian package to aid victims of Hurricane Mitch is greatly
needed, it should not be at the expense of poor people in the United States;
2. In times of budget surpluses and record military budgets, there are
better
ways to finance desperately needed aid to Central America;
3. By the nature of emergency supplemental appropriations, offsets are not
required; and
4. The current amounts allocated to domestic poverty programs include a
cushion to meet unanticipated needs and possible expansions to strengthen a
social safety net.
S. 544 is expected to be debated by the full Senate and the House
Appropriations Committee as early as next week.
ACTION: CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY TO
EXPRESS YOUR OPPOSITION TO S. 544. YOU CAN CONTACT THEM BY CALLING THE
CAPITOL
SWITCHBOARD AT 202-224-3121 OR FAXING/EMAILING THEM. YOU CAN ACCESS THEIR
INDIVIDUAL EMAIL ADDRESSES AT: www.house.gov/writerep AND
www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
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FROM: RACHELLE SCHLABACH AND ELIZABETH YU (MCC WASHINGTON OFFICE)
DATE: MARCH 11, 1999
RE: EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL (S. 544)
Forwarded by: Daniel Friesen - dfriesen@csi.com, CRWRC Southwest, Gallup, NM
ISSUE: On March 4, the Senate Appropriations Committee, by a vote of
28-0,
approved a $1.9 billion Emergency Supplemental package to aid Central
American
countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, aid for U.S. farmers and new economic
and
military assistance for Jordan. The Committee chose to ?offset? (take
funds
from other budget sources) the amount in part, by cutting domestic programs,
such as $262 million from food stamps, $350 million from TANF, Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (state welfare block grants) and $314 million
from
community development block grants. The Committee reasoned that these
domestic funds are ?available? because not all States have fully implemented
their programs, such as TANF, and the funds are lying unspent.
The Committee?s financing of the emergency supplemental bill by drastic cuts
to
domestic poverty programs is flawed for the following reasons:
1. While a humanitarian package to aid victims of Hurricane Mitch is greatly
needed, it should not be at the expense of poor people in the United States;
2. In times of budget surpluses and record military budgets, there are
better
ways to finance desperately needed aid to Central America;
3. By the nature of emergency supplemental appropriations, offsets are not
required; and
4. The current amounts allocated to domestic poverty programs include a
cushion to meet unanticipated needs and possible expansions to strengthen a
social safety net.
S. 544 is expected to be debated by the full Senate and the House
Appropriations Committee as early as next week.
ACTION: CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY TO
EXPRESS YOUR OPPOSITION TO S. 544. YOU CAN CONTACT THEM BY CALLING THE
CAPITOL
SWITCHBOARD AT 202-224-3121 OR FAXING/EMAILING THEM. YOU CAN ACCESS THEIR
INDIVIDUAL EMAIL ADDRESSES AT: www.house.gov/writerep AND
www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
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