[SeniorTaskForce-News] Senior Task Force Members: Advocacy Alert: Senate Votes on Spending Bills Expected Tomorrow

Tue Mar 8 10:48:45 PST 2011

For your consideration

Rosanna 

________________________________

From: Michael O'Donnell [mailto:MODonnell at eciaaa.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 9:14 AM

Subject: FW: Advocacy Alert: Senate Votes on Spending Bills Expected
Tomorrow

ECIAAA Advocacy Alert

Today, the U.S. Senate is expected to take action on spending bills for
Fiscal Year 2011.  

We need your help now.  Let your voice be heard.

Please call Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Mark Kirk today and ask them
to oppose H.R. 1 and any spending cuts that would have a harmful effect
on programs for older Americans.

In East Central Illinois, we are most concerned about the loss of
federal funds which support 30 community programs serving over 27,000
Illinois Seniors and their caregivers - essential services, such as:
information and assistance, home delivered meals, and rural
transportation.

For more details, please read the Advocacy Alert from the n4a- the
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, shown below.

You can reach Senator Durbin at his Washington, D.C. office at:
202-224-2152

You can reach Senator Kirk at his Washington, D.C. office at:
202-224-2854

Thank you.

From: K.J. Hertz [mailto:khertz at n4a.org] 
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 3:14 PM
To: Michael O'Donnell
Subject: Advocacy Alert: Senate Votes on Spending Bills Expected
Tomorrow

 National Association of Area Agencies on
Aging<http://www.n4a.org/images/Advocacy_Alert_masthead.jpg> 

March 7, 2011

Senate Votes on Spending Bills Expected Tomorrow

The Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on two very different year-long
spending bills for FY 2011: H.R. 1, the House-passed CR that cuts more
than $60 billion and a Senate-introduced CR released on Friday by Senate
Majority Leader Reid. The Senate CR cuts $6.5 billion from programs'
current levels and funds the federal government for the remainder of the
fiscal year. This is in addition to the $4 billion in cuts recently
passed as part of a "stop-gap" funding measure to keep programs funded
through March 18 while negotiations continue on a full-year CR.

The Senate Democratic CR includes $167.6 billion in total funding for
Labor-HHS-Education programs, compared to $170.6 billion in the FY 2011
President's request, and $142.5 billion in H.R. 1. The total for the
Department of Health and Human Services is $71.2 billion, compared with
$74.3 billion in the President's request, and $61.0 billion in H.R. 1.

Under the Senate Democratic CR, the Administration on Aging (AoA) would
receive a $29 million increase in funding over FY 2010. The Community
Services Block Grant (CSBG) program would be level funded at $700
million. The proposal would also retain level funding for Corporation
for National and Community Service programs. However, the Senior
Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) would receive a $225
million cut and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
would receive a $249 million cut.

By comparison, as previously reported, H.R. 1 would trim more than $60
billion from the federal government's FY 2010 discretionary budget. H.R.
1 includes far more severe cuts to these same programs including a $65
million cut to AoA's budget (still only specified as being related to
the ACA), a $525 million cut to SCSEP, a $400 million cut to LIHEAP, a
$305 million cut to CSBG and an elimination of funding for Corporation
for National and Community Service programs, including Senior Corps.

Contact Your Senators:

It is critical that all AAAs and Title VI programs contact their
Senators to encourage them to oppose harmful cuts to AoA's budget, as
well as other key programs like SCSEP, LIHEAP, CSBG and Senior Corps. 

Reaching your Senator is critical, as the votes in the Senate this week
are expected to influence the direction of any compromise that emerges
between Republicans and Democrats on FY 2011 spending for the rest of
year.

Action Requested:

--> Contact your Senators and ask them to oppose H.R. 1 and any spending
cuts that would have a detrimental effect on programs for older
Americans. Take the time to localize the funding cuts in terms of what
they mean for the older adults in your part of the state (e.g., jobs
lost, meals reduced, rides not available, etc.), as these messages are
most important to your elected officials.

*  STEP 1: Call/email the state and DC offices of your Senators. DC
offices can be reached through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)
224-3121. Fax or email the state and DC offices of your Senators. If
emailing, go to www.senate.gov <http://www.senate.gov/>  to find your
Senators' web pages, where there is usually an email form for
constituent comments.

*  STEP 2: Ask other advocates to do the same! Urge colleagues, advisory
board members, volunteers and clients to make calls to their Senators,
as well.

*  STEP 3: Share any feedback you receive as a result of your contacts
with your Senators with n4a policy staff.

If you have questions about this Advocacy Alert, please contact n4a's
Public Policy and Legislative Affairs staff, Amy Gotwals and K.J. Hertz,
at 202.872.0888 or agotwals at n4a.org <mailto:agotwals at n4a.org> ,
khertz at n4a.org <mailto:khertz at n4a.org> . 

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 872-0888
Fax:(202) 872-0057

To unsubscribe send email to webmaster at n4a.org

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