Report Details Cumulative Cuts to Labor, Health, Education Programs

GOP Claims ofIncreased Spending On Critical Programs Devoid of Facts

WASHINGTON,DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released a new report today laying out thebare facts on how deeply labor, education and health programs have been cut,and refuting Republican claims that increased spending in these areas isresponsible for the deficit. The report details a decade-long erosion offederal support for these programs, as well as how badly the departments willcontinue to suffer as a result of recent budget cuts and the indiscriminate,across-the-board cuts—known as sequestration—that will occur on March 1 ifCongress fails to act.

Overthe past decade, per-capita, inflation adjusted spending on labor, educationand health programs have been cut by roughly seven percent, or a total of $12billion. If sequestration goes into effect on March 1, another $7.5 billionwill be cut in these same critical areas. That will be on top of cuts alreadyrequired by the Budget Control Act of 2011, which are expected to cutover $9 billion, or 5.4 percent, from inflation and population adjustedspending by 2021.

"Thisreport thoroughly refutes Republican claims that spending on labor, educationand health programs is out of control, and demonstrates that substantial cutshave already been made to services critical to the nation's well-being.Particularly on the heels of the worst recession in decades, we should bebolstering programs that provide job training, access to higher education andmental health services, not further cutting in to them and harming Americanfamilies.

"Andinstead of sitting back and watching the middle class suffer, Congress shouldbe finding a balanced solution to the sequester. If these cuts continue, andincrease, they will cost us jobs, slow down our recovery and— mostimportantly—cause great harm to families who are already struggling to get by.I am imploring my Republican colleagues; please join us in finding a sensiblesolution."

Thereport takes a comprehensive look at the compounded impacts of multiple cuts infunding: from 2002-2012, from the cuts that were put in place by last year'sBudget Control Act, and from the impact sequestration would have on labor,education and health programs. All numbers were compiled by DeLauro's staff,working from publicly available resources.

Report on Previous, Pending, and Future Cuts to Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education