321ACTION: February 18, 2025
Both chambers of Congress are embroiled in negotiations that could deprive millions of Americans of food and healthcare while giving new tax cuts to extremely wealthy individuals and corporations, increasing spending on immigration enforcement and the military, and expanding the drilling for fossil fuels.
Last week, the House and Senate Budget Committees marked up competing budget resolutions. These resolutions tell other committees how much money they need to either cut or how much extra they have to spend. Both proposed budget resolutions would cut critical programs people rely on to meet their basic needs, depriving millions of the most vulnerable Americans, including children and low-income seniors, of food access, healthcare, and education.
During the budget reconciliation process, lawmakers can make changes in law that impact spending and revenue with a simple majority of votes in both chambers of Congress, circumventing the Senate filibuster that is usually a constraint on purely partisan lawmaking.
See below for ways you can help protect the most vulnerable Americans from the most devastating proposed cuts.
Ready to make a difference?
Here are three ways to get started:
3. Tell Congress to save SNAP
Proposed changes to the SNAP program could have devastating consequences for as many as 41 million of the most vulnerable Americans who rely on the program to feed themselves and their families. One in five American children live in households that rely on SNAP.
As CHN Action writes, “SNAP provides much more than just food assistance: It is a critical support system that promotes food security, economic well-being, and better health outcomes. The program plays a vital role in addressing hunger, reducing health care costs, and improving the long-term prospects of households with low incomes.”
Additionally, proposed Medicaid work requirements would put millions at risk of losing access to healthcare. Learn more on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 2:00 pm Eastern from our friends at the National Health Law Program.
Register for the Medicaid webinar
2. Protect Teens from Dating Violence
One in three teenagers report experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone with whom they’re in a relationship. Learn the warning signs of an abusive relationship, and how to talk to your teens about dating violence before it happens.
JWI’s National Alliance webinar, “From Screen to Self: How Media Impacts Teen Relationships and What We Can Do,” is a valuable resource on this topic.
1. Protect DV Survivors from Becoming Homeless
Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women with children. Programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) ensure millions of Americans, from infants to low-income seniors, have a roof over their heads, including special programs for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
DOGE plans to terminate half of HUD’s staff, and HUD cannot administer its lifesaving programs without staff.
Click here to urge your Members of Congress to protect HUD programs and staff.
+ In case you missed it...
JWI’s Interfaith Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Abuse will be holding a webinar TODAY at 3:30 PM Eastern Time about their recent report which highlights the critical role of faith communities in combating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in response to the U.S. National Plan to End Gender Based Violence.
And finally some good news: On Saturday, Hamas released three additional Israeli hostages who were kidnapped from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023 and held in Gaza for 497 days. Seventy people remain in captivity.