Thousands Tell Congress to Pass a Budget That Invests in Shared Prosperity

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March 24, 2015

Deborah Weinstein and Richelle Friedman of CHN deliver the SAVE for All budget letter to House Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).


This week, the House and Senate will be voting on budget proposals introduced last week by their respective Budget Committees (for much more information on what’s in these proposals, as well as the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ alternative proposal, see our latest Human Needs Report). Today, as Members of Congress prepare to vote on these proposals, they’ll also be hearing from CHN and more than 1300 organizations from around the country who signed a letter urging them to approve a budget that will reduce poverty and inequality and invest in shared prosperity.

We know that the House and Senate budget resolutions would be disastrous for low-income people and for our country. We also know what SHOULD be included in the budget. Federal budgets should protect low-income people; invest in broadly shared prosperity; increase revenues; and seek responsible savings from reducing waste in the Pentagon and elsewhere. That’s what the Strengthening America’s Values and Economy (SAVE) for All coalition is calling for in the letter and in meetings with Members of Congress.

The Coalition on Human Needs is honored to be joined by more than 250 faith-based groups, 400 service providers, 217 national groups, and a number of labor unions, policy experts, community groups, and other advocates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in signing the SAVE for All budget letter.

We’re also thrilled that nearly 1400 individuals have signed our petition sending the same message to Congress. If you haven’t yet added your name, there’s still time.  By signing our petition, you can tell Congress we need a federal budget that invests in America and helps all of us, not just the wealthy and the big corporations.

The Budget Committee proposals would cut domestic programs even more deeply than sequestration would require, take away health care, nutrition supports, and tax credits from low-income families, and increase poverty for millions. SAVE for All is asking Congress to #StopTheCuts which in the past have denied Head Start, rental housing vouchers, and meals to homebound seniors to hundreds of thousands of people.

We hope you’ll join us in telling lawmakers America needs a budget that supports everyone, especially our nation’s most vulnerable, just as our elected officials work on the budgets for the next fiscal year. And we thank those of you who have already added your name.

For more ways you can tell Congress to #StopTheCuts, check out these sample Facebook posts and Tweets. And make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest on how you can take action.

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