Dear Neighbors:
I joined my D.C. Council colleagues on Capitol Hill yesterday to meet with House Republicans and explain how their proposed continuing resolution will hurt the District of Columbia. It would force us to slash police and education funding, all of which we pay for with our own local funds. The continuing resolution passed by the House of Representatives today would cut around $1 billion from the District’s local operating budget. Immediately.
These are your tax dollars, and they go toward keeping the District safe, providing stable, secure, and productive schools for our children, and creating a clean, livable, vibrant city for all residents.
The CR now goes to the Senate, and we need your help to fight for the District’s budget. Please take a few minutes to call Senate Democrats and ask them to allow D.C. to continue spending at already approved FY25 levels by voting against any CR that hurts the District. Ask your friends and family who have congressional representation to call their Senators as well.
- Senator Mark Warner (VA) – 202-224-2023
- Senator Tim Kaine (VA) – 202-224-4024
- Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) – 202-224-4654
- Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD) – 202-224-4524
- Senator Andy Kim (NJ) – 202-224-4744
- Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) – 202-224-2823
- Senator Elissa Slotkin (MI) – 202-224-4822
- Senator Cory Booker (NJ) – 202-224-3224
- Senator Brian Schatz (HI) – 202-224-3934
- Senator Raphael Warnock (GA) – 202-224-3643
- Senator Jon Ossoff (GA) – 202-224-3521
- Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) – 202-224-3542
- Senator Mark Kelly (NV) – 202-224-2235
- Senator Chris Coons (DE) – 202-224-5042
- Senator Gary Peters (MI) – 202-224-6221
Here are some talking points:
- Allow D.C. to continue spending at already approved FY25 levels and vote against any CR that hurts the District.
- The House-passed continuing resolution would result in an immediate $1 billion cut to public safety, education, and other essential services. Our most critical government services, including law enforcement, teachers, firefighters, and other first responders would be furloughed. A billion-dollar cut to our budget halfway through the fiscal year would have a devastating impact on our local economy and our ability to provide the essential services necessary for our city to thrive.
- This would not save the federal government any money. These are local dollars, not federal. It would only force D.C. leaders to make decisions that put our constituents at risk, many of whom are members of Congress’ staff, or their children, or their families. If enacted, we’ll finish the year with $1 billion senselessly unspent.
Fellow councilmembers, the Mayor, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and I are standing firmly together against the GOP continuing resolution. Congress shouldn’t block D.C. from spending its own money on D.C.’s safety, schools, and other essential services.Thank you for joining us in standing up for the District.
I joined my fellow councilmembers, the Mayor, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on Capitol Hill yesterday to send an important message to Congress: We must be able to spend our locally raised dollars locally – on keeping the District safe, on providing stable, secure, and productive schools for our children, and on creating a clean, livable, vibrant city for all residents.
As always, please be in touch (online or 202-724-8181) if my office can help you as we navigate this challenging time.