Senate Passes Budget Resolution Harmful to Vulnerable Communities

On May 6, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 to approve a budget resolution that slashes funding for vulnerable Americans, underfunds transportation and education, and harms long-term economic growth.

In a letter ahead of the vote, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights urged the Senate to oppose the resolution, calling it “a blue print for increasing poverty and inequality.” The resolution repeals the Affordable Care Act and proposes $5 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, SNAP/food stamps, child care, Head Start, transportation, housing, and other programs that help vulnerable Americans. While the majority of budget cuts come from programs that help low- and middle-income Americans, the resolution benefits the wealthiest Americans by continuing or increasing tax cuts for corporations and repealing the estate tax.

In its letter, The Leadership Conference called a vote in favor of the resolution “a vote against the communities represented by our member organizations, including groups like young children, seniors, low-income families, individuals with disabilities, students, the unemployed, and the uninsured.”

All Senate Democrats and Sens. Ted Cruz, R. Texas, and Rand Paul, R. Ky., voted against the resolution.