Dear Neighbors:

I was on the Hill again yesterday along with hundreds of others joining the Free DC coalition, fighting to protect D.C.’s local budget from an expected $1 billion cut in the middle of the budget year. You all have been great – with hundreds more of you, including kids, on the Hill today speaking with Senators and letting your voices be heard. Thank you!

The Senate is getting ready to vote on the Continuing Resolution (the “CR”) – possibly tonight, but more likely tomorrow. It is not too late to take action! You can make a big difference by calling Senators and asking them to “vote ‘no’ on cloture and ‘no’ on any CR that harms D.C.” And by asking friends and family members who live outside of D.C. to call their Senators, too.

If we can get 41 senators to vote no on cloture, it means that the CR, which would cut D.C.’s budget by $1 million in the middle of the budget year would be dead and Congress would have to come up with a new, better CR in its place.

Here are the key talking points for the offices you call. You may get a person or a recorded line where you can leave a message:

• Please vote ‘no’ on cloture and ‘no’ on any CR that harms D.C.
• This is D.C.’s money, not federal tax dollars. And it’s a budget that was already approved by Congress.
• The provision that protects D.C. has been in CRs for 20 years. It’s never been controversial – taking it out makes no sense.
• D.C. has increased its public safety budget – police, fire, EMS – to make our city safer. Don’t take that away from us.
• The CR would cut hundreds of millions from education, hurting families and children.

Who to call

We need Democrats to stay united ‘no’ on cloture and ‘no’ on any CR that harms D.C. Here are key targets to call:

• Senate Committee on Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA): 202- 224-2621
• Richard Durbin (D-IL): 202-224-2152
• Jack Reed (D-RI): 202-224-4642
• Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): 202-224-2841
• Jeff Merkley (D-OK): 202-224-3753
• Christopher Coons (D-DE): 202-224-5042
• Brian Schatz (D-HI): 202-224-3934
• Tammy Baldwin (D-WI): 202-224-5653
• Chris Murphy (D-CT): 202-224-4041
• Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): 202-224-4654
• Martin Heinrich (D-NM): 202-224-5521
• Gary Peters (D-MI): 202-224-6221
• Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): 202-224-4451
• Jon Ossoff (D-GA): 202-224-3521
• Andy Kim (D-NJ) – 202-224-4744
• Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) – 202-224-2823
• Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) – 202-224-4822

We can appeal to Republicans, too. Let them know how devastating D.C.’s budget works against Republican goals for the city:

• Senate Committee on Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME): 202-224-2523
• John Thune (R-SD): 202-224-2321
• Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): 202-224-6665
• Thom Tillis (R-NC): 202-224-6342
• Bill Cassidy (R-LA): 202-224-5824
• Lindsey Graham (R-SC): 202-224- 5972
• Jerry Moran (R-KS): 202-224- 6521
• John Hoeven (R-ND): 202-224- 2551
• John Boozman (R-AR): 202-224-4843
• Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV): 202-224-6472
• Bill Hagerty (R-TN): 202-224-4944
• Deb Fischer (R-NE): 202-224-6551
• Mike Rounds (R-SD): 202-224-5842

Thank you for doing everything you can to help protect D.C.!

P.S. Want to learn a little more about the process? Check out this video from Councilmember Christina Henderson, who has had experience in Congress in addition to here at the Council.