Making Our Budget Work
Hello friends,
I hope April is treating you well. The Mariners are winning! Schools are getting a Spring Break! The cherry blossoms are out in both D.C. and the better Washington (that sound you hear is me sneezing from the tree pollen). And it feels like spring may finally be here to stay!
Spring in D.C. also means it’s budget season. It’s the time of year when the President proposes a budget for Congress to consider, and folks start getting to work on the next year’s funding priorities. We’ve got a lot to cover, so let me dive into the news!
An Irresponsible Budget
Now, I have to admit, this week’s newsletter is not as upbeat as usual, but it’s serious business when we’re talking about proposed cuts to federal programs that are critical to our region’s economy, the health of our friends and neighbors, and the commitments that the federal government makes to each and every one of us.
Our budget should reflect the values and priorities of our nation. Ideally, we would have a budget that makes investments to grow our economy, to ensure that those who serve in our military receive the training and benefits they’ve earned, and to take care of retirees and our most vulnerable. And, ideally, folks in D.C. would start working to get a handle on our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges.
This year, President Trump released a proposal for Fiscal Year 2020 that again includes a wide range of cuts to key programs in our region. The concerns I intend to share with you aren’t partisan. I’m going to stick to the facts and share my concerns regarding the serious problems with the President’s budget. Some elements of the budget - like the proposed cuts to the Special Olympics - have received a lot of public attention, and thankfully, the Administration is now reversing course. But many other troubling cuts have flown under the radar and ought to be addressed.
Cuts Federal Worker Pay & Benefits
Staying on the subject of jobs... The federal government is the largest employer in the country and it’s the largest employer in our neck of the woods, too. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is proposing a series of cuts to federal employee pay, along with cuts to retirement and health benefits.
For example, the budget proposes cuts to pensions to the tune of approximately $75,000 per federal employee. The proposal would also cancel cost-of-living increases to pension income for retirees in one program and scraps certain retirement benefits for employees who stop working before they are eligible for Social Security. Current federal employees would also end up paying more for their retirement benefits, without getting anything in return.
It makes no sense to nickel-and-dime the hardworking people who serve our communities. These cuts hurt the folks at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, who work hard so the U.S. Navy can defend us. It also hurts the people managing the submarines homeported up the road at Sub Base Bangor, the park rangers guiding millions of visitors through Olympic National Park, the nurses and doctors at the VA medical centers serving our local veterans, and the Forest Service workers who literally grow local jobs by prepping timber harvests in our federal forests.
Threatens Access to Affordable Health Care
Rather than expanding access to affordable health care, the President’s budget includes an $845 billion cut over the next 10 years to Medicare, the federal program that provides health insurance to older Americans. It also includes a $241 billion cut to Medicaid, the health-care program serving low-income Americans.
People across the country - and right here in our region - rely on Medicare and Medicaid. Take Taylor, for example:
I met Taylor last month at the Community Health Care's Hilltop Regional Health Center. “If it weren't for Medicaid, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be alive,” she told me. With her family by her side, Taylor shared her story of her battle with cancer. She told me of her dream job as a JAG officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and how her health and hours-long medical appointments have dashed those dreams. But she's thankful to be alive. Thanks to the expansion and funding of Medicaid, Taylor can see specialists who help her navigate this disease and its damage to her vocal chords.
Beyond that, the Trump Administration has been clear about its plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, including striking down protections for people with pre-existing conditions. While I wasn’t in Congress when the law was passed, and I don’t think it’s a perfect law, it’s undeniable that the law has done a lot of good for a lot of the folks I represent.
Rather than unwinding the progress that’s been made, Congress should fix some of the challenges with the law and build on the success of the ACA by implementing new legislation like the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act (H.R. 1884), which I co-sponsored, so people like Taylor can get the health care they need.
Weakens Environmental Protection
In the biggest cut to any single department, the Trump Administration is proposing to slash the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 31 percent. The EPA accounts for just 0.2 percent of the federal budget, despite the important role it plays in protecting our air, our water, and ultimately our health. In addition, the budget proposes to cut the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors weather systems and funds vital programs that support our fishing industry, by 16%. The Administration is also proposing a 70 percent cut in renewable energy research and the elimination of climate science programs across an array of agencies.
I don’t quite know where to begin, but here’s a quick glimpse into some of the environmental programs the Administration is proposing to eliminate:
- The Coastal Zone Management Grants Program - which provides vital funding to coastal communities aimed at preserving or restoring coastal resources or areas, redeveloping waterfronts and ports.
- The Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund - which helps reverse the declines of Pacific salmon and steelhead, supporting conservation efforts in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.
- The Puget Sound Geographic Program - which is the primary source of federal investment to clean up Puget Sound. It provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments to implement much-needed projects that protect jobs and local economies by improving water quality, enhancing fish passage, increasing salmon habitat, and protecting shorelines.
These programs, which are vital to protecting the ecosystems in our region and helping our coastal communities thrive, are unfortunately on the chopping block.
Fails to Address the Affordable Housing Crisis
Last month, I checked in with Michael Mirra at the Tacoma Housing Authority (THA). Too many folks are suffering because of the current housing affordability crisis, and I am grateful for the work that THA does to house the most vulnerable community members in Tacoma. You can view our conversation here.
Unfortunately, President Trump's budget proposal calls for cuts that would result in the elimination of housing assistance for almost 1,000 households in Tacoma. This is not acceptable. In the months ahead, I'll carry the stories and successes of THA and amplify them throughout the halls of Congress.
That was a lot... Bonus points if you made it through until the end. While I’ve highlighted a lot of the negative aspects of the Trump Administration’s proposal, I’m hopeful that Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate will come up with a better proposal.
I’m thankful to be a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, and for the opportunity to play a key role in determining how we move forward to fund our nation’s priorities. You should know that I’ll continue to fight for a smarter budget - one that reflects our values, helps us grow our economy, keeps the priorities of our region at the forefront, and makes real choices to deal with our fiscal challenges.
OK... that’s it for now. As always, if you ever need a hand, don’t be afraid to holler. I’m honored to represent you.
Derek