The Sisters of Notre Dame have always served children, women and the most vulnerable members of society.
Congress is currently working on a budget reconciliation that threatens to severely impact children, women, the elderly and the most vulnerable members of society.
There are cuts proposed in the House budget: Agriculture $230 billion and Energy in Commerce $880 billion.
These cuts would come from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid to fund detention and deportation of immigrants, including some with temporary protection status.
SNAP is an essential tool to prevent hunger and helps 40 million people put food on their table. Even with SNAP, 34 million people in the U.S. face hunger, including 9 million children.
- cuts would decrease individual and family benefits
- remove people from food assistance
- require work from people who may be unable to work
Medicaid is a program that helps keep people healthy at all stages of life. More than 70 million people rely on Medicaid for health coverage.
Medicaid covers 40% of all U.S. births, 40% of children's health coverage, 40% of non-elderly people with a disability and 60% of nursing home residents.
Right now, committees that were named in the budget resolutions in the House and Senate are working on writing their portion of the budget's spending and revenue.
Once the reconciliation bills are written in committee, the committee marks up or amends them. Only one reconciled bill can pass, so this process can go back and forth until a simple majority agrees.
The budget reconciliation process can provide benefits if done with intention, like the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
We need to ask our Representatives and Senators to create a budget reconciliation package that provides for the dignity and care of the most vulnerable and benefits the common good.
Please include a story about someone you know who benefits from safety net programs like SNAP, Medicaid, etc. and what these cuts would mean for their daily life.
Some ideas for talking points for your letter:
- Strengthen the Child Tax Credit (CTC), so its benefits are targeted at the poorest children
- Continue to provide the CTC to all children with a Social Security Number, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
- Ensure taxes raise enough money for programs that meet the needs of the poor.
-Please expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and Adoption Tax Credit and ensure their benefits better serve low-income families and individuals.