Back From the Holidays, Rep. Williams is Eyeing Harmful Cuts to Key Federal Programs
House Republicans Have Proposed a Slate of Legislation That Puts Corporations First and Working Americans Last
CENTRAL NEW YORK — Congressman Brandon Williams returns to Washington this week, where the House is considering a number of appropriations bills that will determine federal funding for the 2024 fiscal year. The proposed Republican bills contain deep cuts to many key programs and federal agencies, sparking concerns that House Republicans are prioritizing symbolic spending cuts over the well-being of working-class Americans. Rep. Williams has an obligation to his constituents to reject these types of harmful cuts and protect the programs that working New Yorkers and their families rely on.
“It’s become abundantly clear that Congressman Williams is far more interested in fighting for corporations and billionaires than the people of Central New York,” said Casey, a resident of Fayetteville. “Meanwhile, the rest of us have been hung out to dry. Rep. Williams needs to oppose any efforts to cut access to Social Security, Medicare, and the other essential programs that so many of us rely on to make ends meet.”
Here are just some of the harmful provisions in House Republicans’ upcoming bills:
Commerce, Justice, and Science
Cuts funding for the Economic Development Administration, which primarily supports rural communities
Cuts funding for corporate antitrust enforcement, which would threaten efforts to hold corporations accountable, lower prices, and give consumers more choice
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Eliminates funding for federal work-study programs, which allow students from low-income families to access higher education
Cuts funding for public education by $14.7 billion, threatening to eliminate up to 18,500 teaching positions in schools that serve low-income students across New York
Cuts funding for the Department of Labor’s Worker Protection Agencies, which oversee safety standards, protect union rights, and enforce minimum wage, overtime, child labor, and family and medical leave laws
Cuts funding for the already-underfunded Social Security Administration, making it harder for seniors to access their Social Security benefits
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Cuts funding for affordable housing and tenant protection programs, increasing the cost of housing
Financial Services and General Government
Blocks the IRS from developing a free tax return filing system
Cuts funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies tasked with protecting Americans from fraud, scams, and dangerous products
Cuts funding for the Small Business Administration
In addition, these four bills would strip the IRS of a combined $67 billion, making it harder for the agency to go after ultra-wealthy and corporate tax cheats who avoid paying their fair share.
To learn more about the campaign, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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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.
