The Leadership Conference Signs on to CHN-Led Letter Urging Congress to Responsibly Fund Needed Services and Reject the Chaos of a Government Shutdown

View a PDF of this letter here. 

September 12, 2023

Dear Senator/Representative:

The 680 undersigned organizations urge you to fulfill Congress’ most basic duty: to keep the government running. Congress must pass a clean bipartisan, bicameral continuing resolution (CR) including emergency funding that supports current services and addresses urgent needs and is free of poison pill policy riders that are harmful and irrelevant to the functions of government. Such a CR will ensure that federal programs continue to serve essential needs while Congress works in good faith to finish FY24 funding legislation needed to provide for a robust, stable economy and a secure nation by sufficiently supporting the vital services that help our communities thrive.

Shutdowns harm our nation’s overall economy, the financial security of individuals and families, government efficiency, and the public’s access to needed services. A shutdown would put the nation’s economy at risk, delay or interrupt services to millions, and disrupt the jobs of over a million workers, making it harder for people to put food on the table, a roof over their heads, and stay safe and healthy. A shutdown would make vulnerable communities including people of color more at risk and result in their disproportionate harm. For those concerned about government waste, shutdowns, especially protracted shutdowns, could cost taxpayers billions of dollars even while basic government functions that taxpayers need experience interruptions – whether public health services during flu season, air safety and travel needs, food for children and families or protecting our communities’ safety.

Looking ahead, it is not enough to simply stave off a shutdown. Congress must consider and address the nation’s urgent funding needs by reaching an agreement on final FY 24 appropriations legislation. Despite the budget levels set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which in itself presents funding challenges for many programs and services on which we all rely, the House has drafted FY24 budget bills that violate the spirit of the agreement by including draconian cuts to non-defense discretionary spending, hundreds of poison pill policy riders, and significant recissions that, for example, would undermine our nation’s fight against climate change and the ability of the IRS to hold wealthy tax cheats accountable.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has passed 12 bipartisan appropriations bills that are consistent with the bi-partisan spirit of the agreement negotiated by Speaker McCarthy and President Biden. We thank Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins for recognizing the need to add $13.7 billion in emergency spending, exempt from the limits set in the debt-limit deal. This is a critical first step to recognize that the funding caps are unrealistic and harmful and that in the future, the appropriations process should start from what agencies and our communities actually
require, not arbitrary numbers that are untethered from the realities of what the nation needs.

While nondefense appropriations are a small part of the federal budget, less than one-sixth, they fund a wide range of important programs and services that make America run. Examples include: assistance with housing and child care for low-income families, rural development, support for education and job training, scientific and medical research, medical care, veterans’ services, aging services, environmental protections so we can breathe clean air and drink clean water, substance use disorder and mental health treatment, infrastructure investments including sewage treatment, public transportation systems and safe roads, flood control and navigation improvements, diplomacy, humanitarian aid and development, courts and reentry programs, public safety programs, assistance for small businesses, and many other programs to strengthen our communities.

Federal investments make our states, counties, cities, and towns run efficiently and serve public needs. States rely on federal investments for more than one-third of their budgets, to ensure the availability of essential services to workers, retirees, people with disabilities, and families. State and local governments are already facing cliffs as significant pandemic aid ends this fiscal year while urgent needs persist. Additional discretionary cuts coupled with this cliff would be deeply harmful.

In summary, our country needs Congress to push past the chaos and focus on the basics: keeping the government running and passing funding bills that place the needs of Americans and the public interest first.

Signed,

(U-CHAN)Uniting Citizens for Housing Affordability in Newton
5 C ministries
ABLE NH
About Fresh
ACA Consumer Advocacy
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Access Technologies, Inc.
Action NC
ADAP Advocacy Association
Advocacy Institute
African American Health Alliance
AFSCME Council 5
AFSCME Council 57
AFSCME Council 61
AFSCME Council 65
AFSCME Council 91
AFSCME Council 93
AFSCME Local 1497
AFSCME Local 1600
AFSCME Local 1659
AFSCME Local 1668
AFSCME Local 312
AFSCME Ohio Council 8, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
After the Harvest
Ahri Center
AIDS Foundation Chicago
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
Alaska Multiple Chemical Association
Alaska Wilderness League
Alchemist CDC
All Our Kin
All4Ed
Alliance for a Just Society
Alliance for Community Transformations
Alliance for Period Supplies
Alliance for Retired Americans
Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools
ALMA Chicago
Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Association of University Women
American Bird Conservancy
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers
American Friends Service Committee
American Geriatrics Society
American Indian Higher Education Consortium
American Library Association
American Psychological Association Services, Inc.
Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)
Amherst Survival Center
Ann Arbor Housing Commission
Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition
APIAHF
Area Agencies on Aging Association of MI
Area Agency on Aging of Northwest MI
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Arizona Association of County School Superintendents
Arizona Center for Disability Law
Arizona Center for Economic Progress
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Arizona Council of Human Service Providers
Arizona Food Bank Network
Arizona Students’ Association
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Arkansas Community Organizations
Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence
Asian Resources, Inc
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP)
Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS)
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
Association of Population Centers
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO)
Association of State And Territorial Health Officials
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Autism Society of America
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Battle Born Progress
BCTGM International Union
Bekhita center
Bethel Area Food Shelf
Big Cities Health Coalition
Blue Ridge Community Action, Inc
Branches Long Island
Bread for the World
Breaking the Cycle drop corp
Brightpoint
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition
California Association of Food Banks
California Council of the Blind
Camden Mission SDA Church
Candler County Schools
CAPPA Children’s Foundation
Caring Across Generations
CCWRO
CDR
Center for Community Progress
CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Responsible Lending
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Central California Food Bank
CESA 2
Champlain Islands Food Shelf
Chester County Food Bank
Child & Family Resources, Inc
Child Care Law Center
Child Welfare League of America
Children’s Action Alliance
Children’s Defense Fund
Children’s HealthWatch
Children’s Institute, Inc.
Children’s Service Society of Utah
Children’s Trust Fund Alliance
Church of Scientology National Affairs Office
Church of St Francis Xavier
Church World Service
Citizen Action of New York
Citizen Action/Illinois
Clean Water Action
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Clover (formerly Kingsley House)
COAD
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Coalition on Human Needs
Coastal Bend Ctr for Independent Living
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
Committee for Children
Common Sense Media
Community Access National Network
Community Action Partnership
Community Action Southold Town
Community Catalyst
Community Change Action
Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County
Community ser sda
ComPostPylonAmerica
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families
Connecticut Citizen Action Group
Consortium of Social Science Associations
Consumer Action
Cornerstone Community Action Agency
Council of Administrators of Special Education
Council of the Great City Schools
Council on Social Work Education
Creating Opportunities
Crest Collaborative
DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
DC Office of the Tenant Advov
Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC)
Desire Community Housing corp
Disability Law Center
Disability Law Center of Alaska
Disability Law Center of Utah
Disability Law Colorado
Disability Rights Arkansas
Disability Rights California
Disability Rights Center – NH
Disability Rights Iowa
Disability Rights Michigan
Disability Rights Nebraska
Disability Rights New Mexico
Disability Rights New York
Disability Rights North Carolina
Disability Rights Oregon
Disability Rights Pennsylvania
Disability Rights South Carolina
Disability Rights South Dakota
Disability Rights Vermont
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Drug Policy Alliance
East Bay Housing Organizations
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC)
Economic Policy Institute
EDGE Consulting Partners
Educare Learning Network
Educate. Advocate.
Education Reform Now
El Refugio, Inc.
Embrace Services, Inc.
Empire Justice Center
Employment & Employer Services (E&ES)
Empower Next Generations
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin
End Hunger Connecticut!
Endangered Species Coalition
Equal Rights Advocates
Equality California
Esperanza United
Fair and Just Prosecution
Faith Mission Inc.
Famicos Foundation
Family Centered Treatment Foundation
Family Values @ Work
Feeding New York State
Fellowship Baptist Church of Wyandanch
FIND Food Bank
First Focus Campaign for Children
Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA)
Florida Policy Institute
Florida Rising
Fontana USD
Food Bank for the Heartland
Food Bank of Central New York
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
Food for People
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
Food Share of Ventura County
Forest Park District 91
Foster Care Alumni of America
Foster Care to Success
Found House IHN
Franciscan Action Network
Franciscan Peace Center
Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc
Free Community Meal
Freedom from the street
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of the Earth
Full Plates Full Potential
Futures Without Violence
GA Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Gaithersburg HELP
GenZOregonizers
Georgia Advocacy Office
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
GRACE/End Child Poverty California
Granite State Independent Living
Greater Boston Legal Services
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Habitat for Humanity Chicago
HANDS (Helping and Nurturing Diverse Seniors)
Harmony Helping Hands Food Pantry
Hawai’i Coalition for Immigrant Rights
Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks!
Head Start
Health Care for America Now (HCAN)
Health Care Voices
Health Imperatives Inc
Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS)
Healthy Teen Network
HIGH IMPACT Mission-Based Consulting & Training
His Pantry at Sacred Heart St Francis
HIV Medicine Association
Home Grown
Homeless Action Center
Homeless Advocacy for All
Honest Arizona
Housing Action Illinois
Housing Assistance Council
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
Human Rights Campaign
Human Service Chamber of Franklin County
Human Services Center Mon Valley
Hunger Action Los Angeles
Hunger Free Colorado
Hunger Free Vermont
Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force
IL Hunger Coalition
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Impact Fund
Income Movement
Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking (ICESAHT)
Indiana Disability Rights
Indivisible Georgia Coalition
Indy Hunger Network
Inland Equity Community Land Trust
Innocence Project
Interfaith Power & Light
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Iowa Hunger Coalition
IRBC Food Pantry
ISAIAH
Islamic Relief USA
Island Harvest Food Bank
Japanese American Citizens League
Jeremiah’s Inn
Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Boston
Jewish Family Service of Colorado
Jewish Women International (JWI)
John Graham Housing & Services
John Griffiths
Johnson Park Center (JPC)
Just Harvest
Justice in Aging
Kansas School Superintendent Asso.
Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
Kentucky Protection and Advocacy
Kids Above All
Kids and Car Safety
Kitchen Soup Project
Knowledge Alliance
Knowledgepanel
L.I. Against Domestic Violence
Ladles of Hope
Lakeside Community Committee
Latino Action Network Foundation
LeadingAge
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters of St. Lawrence County, New York
Little Lobbyists
LiveAbility LLC
Livingston County Senior Nutrition/ Meals on Wheels
Long Beach Gray Panthers
Long Island Council of Churches
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Low Income Investment Fund
Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development
Main Street Alliance
Maine Center for Economic Policy
Maine Children’s Alliance
Maine People’s Alliance
March On / Future Coalition
Mary House, Inc
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives
Massachusetts Peace Action
Maternal and Child Health Access
Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
McGraw community food pantry
Mendocino Food & Nutrition Program INC, dba Fort Bragg Food Bank
MENTOR
Mercy Housing
Methodist Action Program
Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing
Mexico (NY) Food Pantry
MICAH
Michigan AFSCME Council 25
Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
MIDDLE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council
Minnesota Disability Law Center at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Mohawk Valley CAA
Mommieactivist and Sons
MomsRising
Mono County Office of Education
Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity
Montana Conservation Corps
Morris and New Berlin First UMC’s
Mountainland Head Start, Inc.
MS Human Services Coalition
Musikanten Inc
Mustard Seed Food Pantry
NACEDA
NAPE
Natchez Housing Authority
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
National Association for Family Child Care
National Association for Music Education
National Association for Pupil Transportation
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Association of Federal Veterinarians
National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Workforce Boards
National Center for Healthy Housing
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE)
National Child Care Association
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Coalition of STD Directors
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
National Community Action Partnership
National Community Development Association
National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women, PA
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Education Association (NEA)
National Employment Law Project
National Energy Assistance Directors Association
National Head Start Association
National Health Law Program
National Homelessness Law Center
National Housing Law Project
National Housing Resource Center
National Immigration Law Center
NATIONAL INDIAN COUNCIL ON AGING
National Juvenile Justice Network
National Leased Housing Association
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
National Respite Coalition
National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium
National Rural Education Association
National Skills Coalition
National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)
National WIC Association
National Women’s Health Network
National Women’s Law Center
Native American Disability Law Center
Natural Resources Defense Council
NC WAT
NCH
NCNW- National Council of Negro Women Inc.
Nebraska Appleseed
Neighbor to family, INC
Neighborhood Improvement Association
NEK-CAP, Inc.
NEKTI Consulting
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Nevada Association of School Superintendents
Nevada Public Health Association
New Hampshire Hunger Solutions
New Hampshire Legal Assistance
New Jersey Association on Correction
New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence
New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
New York State Public Health Association
Niagara Community Action Program, Inc
Nonprofit Finance Fund
Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry/ Community Lunch Program for Kids
North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
Northland Community Services Coalition
Northwell Health
Northwest Harvest
Nourish California
NYSSBA NSBA
OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4
OC Food Bank
OC Food Bank – Community Action Partnership of Orange County
OCEAN FUTURES SOCIETY
Office of Protection & Advocacy
Ohio Association of Foodbanks
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Ohio Head Start Association, Inc.
Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Inc.
Omni Center for Peace Justice Ecology
OpenSky Policy Institute
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Oregon Women’s Rights Coalition
Our Children Oregon
Our Daily Bread
Outward Bound USA
P.O.S.T protect our stolen treasures
PA Council of Children, Youth & Family Services
PAI
Parents as Teachers
ParentsTogether Action
Partners For a Hunger-Free Oregon
Partners in Care Foundation
Path to Progress
Pathfinders Milwaukee, Inc.
Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW
People First Wisconsin
People Power United
People’s Action
PFLAG National
Philadelphia Solar Energy Association
Piedmont Habitat
Pittsburgh Food Policy Council
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Plymouth Church Food Pantry
Poverty Project at the Institute for Policy Studies
PrEP4All
Prepare + Prosper
Prevent Blindness
Prism Health North Texas
Private citizen
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO
Progress Iowa
Prosperity Indiana
Prosperity Now
PSI Alaska
Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK)
Public Citizen
Public Health Solutions
Public Justice Center
Rachel Carson Council
Rebuild America’s Schools
Red Jen Ford Health & Wellness
Redfield Food Pantry
Region IV Area Agency on Aging
Rehoboth Fellowship Center
Reproductive Health Impact
Resource Connection Food Bank
RESULTS
RESULTS DC/MD
RESULTS Iowa
RESULTS Kitsap
RESULTS Ohio
Resurrection House, Inc.
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Rise Up WV
Roosevelt Freeport Church of Christ
RootsAction.org
Ruth’s Harvest Pantry
Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition
Safe & Sound
Safe States Alliance
Safer Foundation
Safety Net Project of the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School
San Diego for Every Child
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Sanctuary of Hope LA
Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts
School Administrators of South Dakota
School Social Work Association of America
SchoolHouse Connection
SEASCAT
Seaway Valley Prevention Council/Horizons
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County (CA)
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
SERRC
Service Employees International Union
SEWA-AIFW
Share The Wealth Productions
Sheldon Methodist Church Food Shelf
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Sisters of Charity, BVM
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation
Social Security Works
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Society for Public Health Education
Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Leo Conf.
Sojourners
Soup to Nuts Soup Kitchen
South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care
South Central Community Action Programs
Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund
Southwest Fair Housing Council
SRC Food Pantry
ST BONIFACE CHURCH
St Boniface Martyr Church Sea Cliff
St Martin of Tours Parish Outreach
St. Bernard Parish Social Ministry
St. Kilian PSM Outreach
St. Lawrence County Community Development Program, Inc.
St. Martin of Tours Parish Outreach
St. Nicholas Food Pantry
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, New Hartford, NY
Start Early
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
Stop ? No More Streets
Strategies for Youth
Sunnyside Community Services
Susan G. Komen
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children
Tennessee Disability Coalition – WorkABLE TN
Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education
The Affordable Homes Group, Inc.
The AIDS Institute
The Arc Michigan
The Arc Minnesota Chapter/Certified Partner’s in Policymaking Class 31
The Collaborative
The Economic Progress Institute
The Education Trust
The Episcopal Church
The Family Place Parent Child Center
The Food Trust
the Forum for Youth Investment
The Greater Boston Food Bank
The Gubbio Project
The Journey Forward
The Kelsey
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
The Skyline Charitable Foundation
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
The Vermont Foodbank
The Women’s Building
The Womxn Project
The Workers Circle
Think Babies NC Alliance
TOOTRiS
Transport Workers Union of America
Transportation Trades Department
Tri-County Office on Aging
Trinity County Office of Education
Trinity Youth Services
UnidosUS
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
UNITE HERE
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Steelworkers
Unity Church of San Leandro
University of California Student Association
URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity
USAging
Utahns Against Hunger
VALOR
Vermont Care Partners
VI Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council
Violence Free Minnesota
Virginia Hunger Solutions a project of Virginia Poverty Law Center
Virginia Organizing
Vision for Equality
VOICES for Alabama’s Children
Voices of Hope, Inc. – Maryland
Washington Defender Association
Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP
Washington State Budget and Policy Center
Washington State Parent Ambassadors
Washington State School Directors’ Association
Waterville Area Food Pantry
Waterville NY Food Pantry
WAVE Educational Fund
We All Rise
Wesley Pantry
West Central Initiative
West Virginia Citizen Action Group
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Witnesses To Hunger NH
Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment
Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement
Women’s Media Center
WomenRising, Inc.
Worcester County Food Bank, Inc.
Workforce Development Board HMO, NY
Wurzbacher and Associates
Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
WZA Consultant
Yoga For Peace, Justice, Harmony With the Planet – Amazing Amy: Eccentric Yoga Entertainer
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
Youth First Justice Collaborative
YWCA Alliance
YWCA Cambridge
YWCA Central Carolinas
YWCA Champaign County
YWCA Clark County
YWCA Dayton
YWCA Delaware
YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley
YWCA Great Falls
YWCA La Crosse
YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts
YWCA of NWO
YWCA of Van Wert County
YWCA Pierce County
YWCA San Diego County
YWCA South Hampton Roads
YWCA Ulster County
YWCA USA
YWCA Yakima
YWCA’s of New York State
ZERO TO THREE
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