United Ways – Contact Your Represenative

ACTION ALERT! CONTACT CONGRESS TODAY TO PRESERVE CRUCIAL FUNDING

On November 23rd the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction will submit its plans for reducing the federal deficit for FY13. We have an opportunity to contact the committee and urge them to support funding for crucial education, income, and health programs.

Together, we can raise awareness about four key areas that affect our communities:

Maintaining and increasing investments in child care, early learning and elementary education
Supporting refundable tax credits for low-income working families
Restoring funding to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)
Protecting charitable giving from tax deduction limitations

When you are part of the greater good, great things happen. Join United Way in advocating for funds that improve lives and strengthen our communities by emailing the Co-Chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.

* Name

* Email

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Dear Senator Murray and Congressman Hensarling:

* Message Recognizing the seriousness and difficulty of the task before the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, I am writing to urge you to support a balanced approach that protects the interests of the most vulnerable Americans and ensures that our nation stays competitive in the 21st Century global economy.

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Specifically, I urge the Committee to:

Maintain and increase investments in child care, early learning and elementary education — the foundation for success in middle school, high school, and beyond. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated a 7.8 percent across-the-board cut in national education funding in FY13, if the "trigger" is enacted. This would result in a cut of $3.54 billion to education, including a reduction of $590 million in funding for Head Start. Without a doubt, these cuts would have a devastating long-term effect on education in our nation, at the very time we should be investing to ensure the best and brightest minds to compete in a 21st century economy.
Support refundable tax credits for low-income working families, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit. Both of these important credits keep millions of families out of poverty and promote economic stability.
Restore funding to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), which meets the needs of hungry and homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless. As you know, funding for EFSP was reduced by 40% in FY 2011. As a result, vital assistance provided under the program to homeless shelters, food pantries and food banks was slashed, making it impossible to meet the needs of many struggling individuals and families.
Protect charitable giving from tax deduction limitations, which could reduce giving to nonprofits at the worst possible time. The current deep economic recession is causing reductions in private giving to nonprofits. At the same time, more people than ever are turning to these organizations for help. As demands on nonprofits continue to increase over the next few years, we must ensure that the charitable deduction continues to enable charities to meet demand for critical community-based services.

I urge you to adopt an approach that is fair in order to put the country on a course towards fiscal stability. The burden of deficit reduction should not be borne primarily by poor and vulnerable Americans who are in no position to sacrifice anymore.

Sincerely,