POLICY and ADVOCACY UPDATE

No additional cuts to nondefense discretionary (NDD) 

programs and services!

The federal government supports many programs that benefit all Americans, including child care, Head Start, Title I, after school, medical and scientific research; public health; education and job training; public safety and law enforcement; weather monitoring; housing and social services; and international relations. In Washington, these programs are collectively referred to as “nondefense discretionary” or simply “NDD” programs. On   January 2, 2013 these programs will face devastating, across-the-board cuts of 8.2 percent through a budget tool known as "sequestration" unless Congress works together to prevent these cuts through a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction.

Please join the NDD community today in National NDD Community Call-in and Tweet Day and ask your member of Congress to support a balanced approach to deficit reduction that does not include further cuts to NDD programs, including  child care, Head Start, Part B and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Title I, the 21st Century Community Schools Program and other critical supports to low-income women and children.

NDD programs represent a relatively small and shrinking share of the federal budget and   our overall economy—already reduced to levels not seen since President Eisenhower held office. They are not the drivers of the debt. In fact, even completely eliminating all NDD programs would still not balance the budget. Yet to date NDD programs have borne the brunt of deficit reduction efforts. If sequestration is allowed to take effect, core services upon which Americans have come to rely will be greatly curtailed or even eliminated.

Call, Tweet, or Facebook your Members of Congress today to let them know that NDD programs, including child care and Head Start , have already done their part to help reduce the deficit – it’s now time for a balanced approach!

This January, essential jobs and services such as child care, Head Start medical research, education, public safety, and air traffic control and  will face more deep cuts through sequestration.

How to Call Your Members of Congress:

For those not familiar with calling the offices of your Members of Congress, you can call the Capitol Switchboard and asked to be connected to your Members’ offices. The phone number is (202)224-3121. You can also go to www.Congress.org to find the office’s direct line and to look up your Members of Congress.

Talking Points:

• There is bipartisan agreement that these cuts would be devastating to the nation.
• For child care specifically, these cuts will mean a loss of 80,000 children and for Head Start a loss of 100,000 children.
• Only through a balanced approach can we avoid sequestration, balance the budget and restore the nation’s economic stability.
• Please work with your colleagues to find a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction that does not include further cuts to essential jobs and services such as child care and Head Start.

How to Tweet Your Members of Congress:
For a complete list of Members of Congress and their Twitter handles, as well as other social media accounts, please see these House & Senate lists. For those relatively new to Twitter, this is a great Twitter 101 Guide from Half in Ten/Center for American Progress.

Sample Tweet: 
#Sequestration means an 8% cut to #earlyed funding in 2013. @[insert member twitter handle] support a balanced approach! #NDDUnited

Thank you for fighting for our nation’s children!

Sincerely,
Jessica Klos Shapiro
Policy Associate
(518) 690-4217 ex. 32