Rep. Velazquez Issues Statement on President Trump’s FY 2019 Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, issued the following statement on President Trump's fiscal 2019 budget proposal:

"In almost every area, the budget released today constitutes an assault on New York's working families. Six weeks after passage of the Republicans' Tax Scam, the President is now suggesting older Americans and middle-class families should shoulder the burden of this giveaway to the wealthy, through devastating cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. As part of this attack on healthcare, the budget cuts $1.4 trillion from Medicaid over a decade, imperiling care for seniors in nursing homes, children with disabilities and low-income families. The Trump Administration has also proposed limiting patient access to certain classes of drugs and instead puts insurers in control of the options available and their pricing.

"In the area of housing, the President proposes slashing HUD's budget by more than 14 percent. Such a reduction would mean a major loss for both Section 8 recipients and greater disinvestment in already neglected public housing projects. Appallingly, this budget would completely eliminate the Community Development Block Grant initiative, which provided over $189 million for New York City projects in 2015 alone. This program was instrumental in recovery efforts from Superstorm Sandy.

"Moreover, the Trump budget callously targets for elimination services that helps families who are struggling to get by. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would be slashed by $138 billion, and the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit would be cut by at least $25 billion. It is morally unconscionable that the President would literally take money from hungry children and seniors to help finance tax breaks for the wealthiest among us.

"This proposal would slash the Environmental Protection Agency's resources by 26 percent, gravely damaging programs we need to address the long-term threat of climate change and, in the immediate term, keep our air and water clean, while helping remediate local environmental eyesores.

"On every count, this budget fails Americans and New Yorkers. Yet, despite all its cuts to the vital programs and services, if ever enacted, the Trump budget would also mean $7 trillion in additional deficit spending over the next 10 years, which speaks to this Administration's recklessness and inability to govern. Thankfully, the Trump budget will almost certainly be rejected out of hand, as it contradicts the budget agreement that was passed by Congress and signed into law last week. I will continue fighting to oppose these proposed cuts and support a budget that reflects the American people's priorities."