The CR: What does it do?
(From a speech given by Senator Bernie Sanders posted 3-13-25)
The CR (as it stands on 3-13-25) is making a lot of cuts to our services and laying the groundwork for a massive tax break to billionaires. It lowers the taxes of the richest 1% by over 1 Trillion dollars over the next decades. Richest 5% will see their taxes go down, but taxes will go up for the lowest 95% of Americans. Bernie Sanders says that the congress should vote "No" on the CR (continuing resolution that keeps the country going). He said that it gives a "green light" to all these cuts. The senate will probably vote on this on 3-14-25.
Senior Citizens/Social Security. They have fired thousands of workers at the Social Security Administration with plans to cut that staff in half. This Department is already understaffed. If they cut the staff in half then it may be a death sentence for thousands of seniors who need their benefits. Musk called Social Security a ponzi scheme.
VA. Understaffed. They had 36,000 unfilled positions this year. They are short 2400 doctors, 6300 registered nurses, 1800 social workers, Trump and Musk are threatening to dismantle the VA by firing 83,000 employees. The CR cuts $20 billion in needed funding.
Department of Education. They have fired half the staff of the Dept of Education and they will have a hard time administering the Title 1 program, and harder to administer the IDEA and to pay for the 180,000 teachers that they fund money for. The PELL grant application page has already crashed and is not working.
Healthcare. 85 million Americans are uninsured, underinsured. Over 500,000 of our people go bankrupt paying medical bills. 60,000 people die in American each year because they can’t go to a doctor. And our life expectancy is 7 years shorter for low income people compared to wealthy Americans. The CR cuts community health center funding by 3.2%, cuts national health service corp by over 5%, cuts funds for teaching health centers by 13%.
Housing Crisis. Over 20 million Americans spent more than 50% of their limited income on housing. The CR cuts rental assistance by $700,000,000, which could lead to more than 32,000 families being evicted from their homes.
Climate Change. Trump thinks it is a hoax, but scientists say it is an existential threat. It doesn’t even specify funding levels for Climate Change and Environmental Justice. And JD Vance has said that if the Trump’s administration doesn't like anything in the CR, they’ll ignore it.
This CR is laying the ground work to give a big tax cut to billionaires, paid for by massive cuts to Medicaid, nutrition assistance, housing and education.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Qb0Fh7o1Y6s?si=HQm_huAyojaYcxIx
[Your
Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Your
Email]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
The Honorable [Senator’s Name]
[Senator’s
Office Address]
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Subject: Urgent Request to Vote NO on the Continuing Resolution (CR) on 3/14/25
Dear Senator [Last Name],
I am writing to urge you to vote NO on the Continuing Resolution (CR) currently before the Senate, as it stands on March 13, 2025. This budget proposal is unacceptable in its current form because it prioritizes massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans while slashing vital services that millions of working- and middle-class citizens depend on.
The CR lays the foundation for over $1 trillion in tax cuts to the richest 1% over the next decade while simultaneously raising taxes on 95% of Americans. This is an outrageous redistribution of wealth that benefits billionaires at the expense of hardworking citizens. Even Senator Bernie Sanders has called this bill a “green light” for devastating budget cuts, and I strongly agree.
If passed, this resolution will result in significant cuts to:
Senior Citizens & Social Security – Reduced cost-of-living adjustments and eligibility restrictions will hurt retirees who rely on these benefits. The Trump administration wants to cut the staff in half this year.
Veterans Affairs (VA) – A proposed budget reduction will limit healthcare, mental health services, and housing assistance for veterans who have served our country. Trump and Musk are threatening to dismantle the VA by firing 83,000 employees. The CR cuts $20 billion in needed funding.
Department of Education – Deep cuts will force schools to operate with fewer resources, worsening teacher shortages and reducing access to quality education, especially in low-income communities. They have fired half the staff of the Dept of Education.
Healthcare – Medicaid and Medicare will see drastic funding reductions, increasing costs for the elderly and low-income families while further limiting access to life-saving treatments. 85 million Americans are uninsured, underinsured. Over 500,000 of our people go bankrupt paying medical bills. 60,000 people die in American each year because they can’t go to a doctor.
Housing Assistance – Affordable housing programs will face funding cuts, exacerbating the housing crisis and leaving thousands more Americans at risk of homelessness. Over 20 million Americans spent more than 50% of their limited income on housing. The CR cuts rental assistance by $700,000,000, which could lead to more than 32,000 families being evicted from their homes.
Climate Change Initiatives – Critical environmental protections and clean energy programs will be stripped, further endangering our planet’s future. Trump thinks it is a hoax, but scientists say it is an existential threat. The CR doesn’t even specify funding levels for Climate Change and Environmental Justice.
This budget is a direct attack on the majority of Americans while serving only the interests of the ultra-wealthy. I urge you to stand with the people who elected you and vote NO on the CR. Instead of passing a resolution that enriches billionaires while gutting social programs, Congress should be focusing on fair taxation, strengthening essential services, and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.
I appreciate your time and consideration and hope to see you take a stand against this disastrous proposal. Please do the right thing and vote NO on March 14th.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your
Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
