This January core federal programs and services face indiscriminate, across-the-board cuts of 8.4 percent through “sequestration.” Such cuts will devastate medical and scientific research; education and job training; infrastructure; public safety and law enforcement; public health; weather monitoring and environmental protection; housing and social services; and international relations. Every day these programs support economic growth and strengthen the safety and security of every American in every state and community across the nation.
Without bipartisan action in Washington as many as 2 million jobs will be lost, and critical services will be eliminated. Members of Congress know what they need to do to stop prevent these cuts. They just haven’t yet mustered the political will to work together and make tough decisions. It’s time to let lawmakers know that balancing the budget takes a balanced approach—they can’t and shouldn’t do it by cutting essential jobs and services alone.
August is a primetime for grassroots engagement. Emily Holubowich, Senior Vice President at CRD and Executive Director of the Coalition for Health Funding, has worked along with representatives from across the NDD community to produce an NDD “toolkit” to prepare grassroots activists to become active in the fight for a balanced approach. Below is a video from the toolkit that explains what sequestration is, why you should care, and what you can do about it. Additional resources can be found on the Coalition for Health Funding website here.