Executive Director’s Statement on President Trump’s FY19 Budget Proposal
Statement on President Trump’s FY19 Budget Proposal
President Trump released his FY 2019 budget proposal last week, which included cuts to many programs affecting low-income families. His proposal included the elimination of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Weatherization Assistance Program, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). He is also proposing a significant change to the way SNAP benefits are administered.
The magnitude to which these cuts would affect Philadelphia residents is astounding. Without the federal dollars that fund these essential programs, hundreds of thousands of Philadelphians would be adversely affected. Community Action Agencies, like the Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity, share a common mission of fighting poverty. Full implementation of President Trump’s proposal would put Community Action Agencies at risk, potentially eliminating these agencies all together.
David Bradley, CEO of National Community Action Foundation, noted that cutting funding from CSBG, money that creates opportunities “for 16 million people across the country, a program with bipartisan support in Congress, abandons every community in America and burdens local communities.” He went on to state that “Congress, Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate, will not accept this cut.”
At the Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity, we are committed to deepening our efforts and the work of other organizations that have shown a commitment to improving the quality of life for all Philadelphians. We are proud to stand with all of you today and everyday, demanding that this budget proposal be denied.