Washington, DC (Press Release) – Leaders from The Jewish Federations of North America weighed in Wednesday on the ongoing budget and debt ceiling negotiations and urged the Senate Democratic Steering Committee in a special meeting to protect programs that support vulnerable U.S. populations and the Jewish community at large.
Many critical programs are under threat of cuts in the current budget and debt ceiling negotiations and The Jewish Federations were invited to share their perspective. Kathy Manning, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations, warned the Senate Democratic Steering Committee of the consequences of cutting critical programs and policies in three key areas: charitable giving, the Medicaid program and the Nonprofit Homeland Security Grant Program.
“We must address the nation’s fiscal crisis but as we do, we cannot turn our backs on our most vulnerable neighbors in and out of the Jewish community,” said Manning. “We can never afford to hinder these programs that are especially vital for children, persons with disabilities, immigrants and senior citizens.”
The Jewish Federations of North America represents 157 federations and 400 independent communities across the continent. In an effort to advocate for The Jewish Federations’ top priorities, Manning stressed the following points in her remarks to the Committee:
- · Do not allow Medicaid to become a block grant program or cap its funding: Cutting Medicaid would deny health and long-term care to millions of vulnerable Americans who would find themselves without a social services safety net.
- · Do not pass proposed limitations on charitable contribution tax deductions: The limitation would reduce the total amount of donations collected by charities and would reduce the amount of giving by top donors who help to fully support the Jewish Federations’ and other leading philanthropies’ work by nearly $4 billion a year according to a recent university study.
- · Protect the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP): Reforms to NSGP would undermine the funding and scope of DHS state and local grant programs, which currently help to ensure the security of the Jewish community.
Among the various efforts of The Jewish Federations, protecting the Medicaid program remains one of the most crucial. “For more than a century, the Jewish Federations have served millions of Americans in need in communities across the country by supporting hospitals, facilities for the aged, and home- and community-based care services,” said William Daroff, Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington Office of The Jewish Federations of North America. “We know first-hand the critical impact that the delivery of basic health- and long-term care made possible by Medicaid has made in people’s lives and the tragic consequences should this program be weakened by Congress.”
Manning’s remarks to the Committee also broadly focused on issues that affect the most vulnerable in the Jewish communities including senior transportation, the Lautenberg Amendment for religiously persecuted individuals from Iran and the Former Soviet Union, the Community Services Block Grant, Autism Awareness funding, and supportive services for needy Holocaust Survivors.
The meeting was led by Chairman Mark Begich with the following U.S. Senators in attendance:
- · Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV)
- · Vice Chairman Daniel. K. Akaka (HI)
- · Carl Levin (MI)
- · Richard Blumenthal (CT)
- · Bill Nelson (FL)
- · Jack Reed (RI)
- · Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ)
- · Robert P. Casey (PA)
- · Robert Menendez (NJ)
- · Kay Hagan (NC)
- · Joe Manchin (WV)
- · Chris Coons (DE)
- · Charles E. Schumer (NY)
- · Amy Klobuchar (MN)
- · Ben Cardin (MD)
- · Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
- · Tom Udall (NM)
- · Jeff Merkley (OR)
- · Barbara Mikulski (MD)
- · Claire McCaskill (MO)
*Preceding provided by the Jewish Federations of North America