Editor’s Note: The Berkshire Edge welcomes Barbara Zheutlin as a columnist, with her new biweekly column “Bright Spots.”
In the whirlwind we are currently experiencing, we are witnessing how fast the government can make things happen (or not happen). Devastated and overwhelmed by the cruelty I am observing, as an individual—who feels lucky to live in the Berkshires—I am going to highlight some bright spots to inspire you, so that you will keep caring for the people in your life, which is part of how we create a world where caring is what matters.
Congresswomen Standing Up!
DeLauro: While You Slept, Republicans Robbed You
Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement after House Republicans jammed through legislation that would provide over a trillion dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy while gutting Medicaid, Medicare, and food stamps:
“While you slept, Republicans robbed you.
“President Trump promised to lower costs for working- and middle-class families on Day One. But he has not been laser focused on the cost of living, in fact, he is making it worse. In the dead of night, House Republicans passed legislation that hands over a trillion dollars in tax cuts to billionaires and the biggest corporations while gutting the very programs that help everyday Americans survive.
“This bill slashes Medicaid, Medicare, and food stamps. Nearly 14 million working Americans who got coverage with the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act could lose health coverage. Food assistance for 42 million is at risk. Seniors, working parents, children, and people with disabilities – all targeted so the ultra-wealthy can hoard even more.
“President Trump and House Republicans are not fighting for working- and middle-class families – they are fighting hard for billionaire families – cutting the inheritance tax so wealthy heirs can rake in even more while Republicans do nothing to strengthen the Child Tax Credit for middle-class families and the most vulnerable children.
“I will not stop fighting to protect Medicaid, Medicare, and food stamps, to expand the Child Tax Credit, and to bring down the cost-of-living for hardworking Americans – not to further enrich billionaires.”
Rep. Craig blasts administration’s proposal to cut head start programs
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig led 89 of her Congressional colleagues in blasting the Administration’s decision to eliminate critical Head Start programs that promote early childhood development and ease the burden of child care on working families.
In a letter to President Donald Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers demanded answers from the Administration about how they intend to fill the gap left by the potential elimination of Head Start and support students, teachers and parents who benefit from these programs.
“A shutdown of Head Start programming would have devastating, far-reaching impacts for nearly half a million children, families and local communities,” the Members wrote. “Over 800,000 children benefit from attending 17,000 Head Start Centers across the country, strengthening their early education and providing developmental screenings.”
“Additionally, the National Head Start Association estimates that more than one million parents who use Head Start and Early Start centers would lose necessary child care, impacting their ability to attend in-person work, causing further workforce disruptions,” the Members continued. “The impacts of these cuts would be generational and long-lasting.”
The Members concluded, “While we share the Administration’s goal of rooting out waste and abuse in government, attempting to defund early education programming and indiscriminately attacking our nation’s most vulnerable families is not the appropriate way to increase government efficiency.”
ICYMI: Congresswoman Simon testifies against Republican Reconciliation Bill, offers two amendments to protect Americans’ health care and benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) testified against the Republican budget reconciliation bill in the House Rules Committee. Congresswoman Simon joined Democratic Members in a marathon debate session opposing the Republicans budget bill and delaying the bill.
You can watch Congresswoman Simon’s full remarks here, and find an excerpt of her remarks below:
“The consequences, the deep, profound consequences of this bill, and what the real-life consequences will have on families – families in my district and across the nation are devastating. My amendments are about (1) protecting reproductive rights and health care, and (2) protecting our social safety net and our federal work force…
“Being a new Member of Congress, what has hurt me, what has hurt me the most, the most as someone who was a teen mom who took my child every day on the bus to child care, and I got support – I then as a transit-dependent person took a bus once a month took an hour and a half long bus to get $26 dollars worth of food stamps – then I would go to college, then my day job, then pick my baby up again. That baby is an attorney now, she passed the Bar on her first time. How dare we cut benefits of hard-working Americans…
“If you haven’t been poor, don’t legislate for the poor. Let’s step up and protect Americans who are working with their full bodies, their full spirits. Instead, you are putting forth a bill that pathologizes the folks that need us most.
Celebrate!
On Sundays, Jessica Craven celebrates the “wins” from the week, providing links in her “daily actions email” that she calls “Chop Wood, Carry Water” to “what went right this week. We need to know something did, or we won’t have the morale to keep going.”
