Rep. Fudge Votes To Protect Cops, TEFAP, WIC Funding

Statement

Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) voted no on the minibus appropriations bill that was before the House today because of potential consequences associated with cuts in the bill. Congresswoman Fudge made this statement:

"Although I agree with most of the provisions in the legislation, I voted no because many of the cuts in this legislation would hurt our neighborhoods and hit our most vulnerable citizens the hardest. I could not, in good faith, vote for a bill that cuts WIC (Women, Children, and Infants) by $116 million and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) by $1.4 million. These programs exist to help our poor in their time of need. I learned from my recent Food Stamp Challenge how hard it is to live on the budget given to SNAP recipients. Many families must rely on food banks when funds run out at the end of the month, so I know the importance of every single dollar that goes to our food banks from TEFAP. The bill also cuts the CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) by 1 million, a significant enough cut that some seniors would need to be removed from the program."

"The bill also cuts the Community Development Block Grant program by $553 million. Just last week, a young lady was raped in my district while walking home through a neighborhood filled with abandoned homes. CDBG dollars go toward demolition of these types of homes. We can't afford to have less CDBG money in my district."

"I strongly oppose provisions that prohibit the Justice Department from consolidating firearms sales records, electronically retrieving the records of former firearms dealers and disclosing information on persons who have passed firearms background checks."

"I could not support legislation that cuts a program that is helping to employ police officers and keep our streets safer. Just this year, Cleveland was able to recall 25 police officers who lost their jobs, after receiving a COPS grant. This bill cuts COPS funds by $296 million. "

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