DeLauro Speaks Out Against Cuts to Labor, HHS, and Education Programs

WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2017) — Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) heard from House Republicans and Democrats as they testified during the Appropriations Subcommittee Members' Day and discussed the critical programs that serve millions of Americans. During the hearing, DeLauro spoke out against cuts to the subcommittee's annual budget and she listened as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle testified on the importance of programs related to public health, national service, job training, and education.

"Despite President Trump's proposal to slash $54 billion from non-defense programs that serve millions of Americans, Republicans and Democrats agree that many of these programs provide critical services and should be fully funded, not cut," said DeLauro. "There is a reason why we refer to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill as the ‘People's Bill' and it is because it has the power to touch people's lives more than any other bill in the House of Representatives. From national service programs like AmeriCorps, to our response to the nation's opioid epidemic, the programs funded in this bill provide essential services across the nation."

"President Trump continues to say that he will make America great again, yet his 2018 budget proposal will do nothing of the sort. We cannot allow these cuts to decimate programs that provide the people we represent with a chance to get ahead in life, that level the playing field for low-income children, and that support our economic competitiveness," continued DeLauro. "Chairman Cole said it best when he said, ‘You can't balance the budget on the back of non-defense discretionary.' Mr. Chairman, I agree, and I hope that we can move forward in a meaningful way that strengthens the critical programs funded by this committee, rather than weakening them."

DeLauro is the Senior Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, which represent 31 percent of non-defense spending and will be decimated by the President's proposed cuts.