NO CUTS, NO CONDITIONS: Long Island Advocacy Groups Demand Rep. D’Esposito Oppose Republican Efforts to Cut Funding for Key Programs
As ANOTHER Potential Government Shutdown Looms, House Republicans are Trying to Cut Funding for K-12 Education, Social Security Administration, and More
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK — Today, Empire State Voices and Make the Road Action were joined by local advocacy groups and Nassau County residents for a press conference outside Congressman Anthony D’Esposito’s district office. The groups called on the NY-04 representative to oppose ongoing Republican efforts to slash funding for programs Long Island families rely on, from the Social Security Administration to K-12 education and childcare assistance.
The coalition included representatives from 1199SEIU, New York Working Families Party, Long Island Progressive Coalition, New York Communities for Change, MoveOn, Bend the Arc, and Communications Workers of America. Speakers gave their remarks in front of a mobile billboard truck emblazoned with the message: “Tell Rep. D’Esposito: Stop voting to cut programs Long Islanders need! No cuts to government funding!”
Empire State Voices and Make the Road Action were joined by local advocacy groups and Nassau County residents for a press conference outside Congressman Anthony D’Esposito’s district office. | Credit: ESV
Congress has spent the last six months unable to agree on government funding for the 2024 fiscal year, as persistent infighting within the Republican-controlled House has led to a legislative standstill. The House is currently in debate over the final six appropriations bills, which must be passed by Friday, March 22nd, or else the government will enter a partial shutdown. While the majority of members from both parties agree on the topline numbers, a faction of extreme Republicans is pushing for amendments that would cut funding to key federal programs and agencies that many Long Island families rely on.
Despite branding himself a “moderate,” Congressman D’Esposito has voted with this extreme faction many times, including a previous attempt to slash nearly all government funding by 30%. Outside his district office today, local advocates and residents shared their stories and implored Rep. D’Esposito to oppose cuts that would harm them, their families, and their communities. Their backgrounds, identities, and experiences were different, but they all had one message in common: “No Cuts, No Conditions.”
Local advocates and residents shared their stories and implored Rep. D’Esposito to oppose cuts that would harm them, their families, and their communities. | Credit: ESV
“Since last October, we’ve seen the Republican-controlled House play with the livelihoods of hardworking New Yorkers and families across the country. They’ve fallen into chaos as they have spent the last six months arguing over which vital programs they’d like to cut first,” said Maria Martinez, Executive Director of Empire State Voices. “Families on Long Island are struggling to pay for rent, medication, and utility bills… Congressman D’Esposito, it’s time you choose Long Islanders over rich tax cheats and corporations.”
“Representative D’Esposito claims to listen to his community members, but his record shows that time and time again he has voted in line with extremists that are pushing for legislation that goes against the interest and well-being of our Long Island communities,” said Angel Reyes, Long Island Coordinator for Make the Road Action. “Our representatives should be looking out for our families, children, and our elders, not the interests of wealthy corporations. We need leaders who will protect vital services such as Medicaid and Social Security so that our communities can have the freedom to stay and the freedom to thrive on Long Island.”
“We need leaders that will protect vital services such as Medicaid and Social Security so that our communities can have the freedom to stay and the freedom to thrive on Long Island.” - Angel Reyes | Credit: ESV
“Everyone here knows the cost of living is at its worst. The cost of being a student is at its worst. With all this in mind, why would Rep. D’Esposito even think that cuts are a logical conclusion?” said Darinel Velasquez, an Organizer with New York Communities for Change. “We know that these programs are life and death for many families. We know that people are barely getting crumbs, to begin with. And D’Esposito is trying to take that away.”
“What are legislators supposed to do? Legislate, right? Stop the photo-ops, stop auditioning for Fox News, and DO YOUR JOB!” said Paul Bua, NY-04 Cohort Leader for MoveOn. “Long Islanders deserve a representative who takes into account and supports their constituents! The previous Congress helped us build the middle class with an enormous amount of legislation. This Congress has failed.”
“As the shutdown looms, we need our elected representatives to show up and do their jobs, working to serve constituents and the everyday people who live in the district,” said Katie Hawkland, Organizing Director for Long Island Progressive Coalition. “Anthony D’Esposito seems to struggle to remember what his job actually is and who he actually works for. D’Esposito keeps serving his extremist buddies by voting for extreme cuts to crucial programs that people in his district need to survive, like Medicare and Social Security.”
To learn more about the campaign, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
###
About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
About Make the Road Action
Make the Road Action builds political power rooted in immigrant and working-class communities, promotes progressive policy solutions, and strengthens the movement for justice through electoral and grassroots organizing.
