Van Hollen: Shameful Tea Party Appeasement Plan Would Let Children Go Hungry

Statement

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement in response to reports that Republicans are proposing new legislation tied to the budget resolution to impose deep cuts to the social safety net:

"The budget Republicans reported out of Committee wasn't extreme enough for the radical Tea Party wing of their caucus. So they are now reportedly proposing to tie it to separate legislation that cuts nutrition assistance and other programs that exist to help the most vulnerable Americans. It is shameful that they'd propose letting Americans -- including children -- go hungry in order to gain support for a deeply divisive budget that would take a sledgehammer to the social safety net."

"This Tea Party appeasement plan is full of provisions that would be disastrous for hardworking families and Americans struggling to get ahead. It takes away the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit from 3 million low-income children, and it eliminates the Social Services Block Grant, which provides services to abused children, frail seniors, and others in need. It also undermines the agreement made in Bipartisan Budget Act, and is merely a preview of the damage the Republican budget's $6.5 trillion in cuts would ultimately have if enacted."

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