The American Humanist Association has signed on to a NDD United letter calling for Congress to use the Budget Conference as an opportunity to replace sequestration with a bipartisan, balanced approach. The text of the letter is below.
NDD United
600 Maryland Avenue SW
Suite 835W
Washington, DC 20024
December 4, 2013
The undersigned 470 national organizations urge you to replace sequestration with a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction. The budget conference opens a critical window to finally enact a responsible fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget that replaces sequestration and reinvests in our eroding national priorities.
Nondefense discretionary (NDD) programs play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities and neighbors. Despite the vast array of important services provided through NDD programs—from education and job training, to housing and science, to National Parks and veterans services, to public health, safety and security—these programs have been cut dramatically and disproportionately in recent years as lawmakers work to reduce the deficit, even though experts agree these programs don’t contribute to our nation’s mid- and longer-term debt problem. In 2014, NDD funding will be nearly 18 percent below 2010 levels adjusted only for inflation as a result of cuts made in the 2011 appropriations process and the Budget Control Act, including sequestration.
- Between FY 2010 and 2011, NDD programs were cut by 7 percent on average, with cuts to some programs as deep as 50 percent and many eliminated entirely.
- Under the Budget Control Act’s spending caps, these programs have been cut an additional 5 percent between FY 2011 and FY 2014 before sequestration.
- With sequestration and the Budget Control Act spending caps, these programs have been cut an additional 11 percent during the same period.
These cuts bring funding for NDD programs as a share of our economy to the lowest level on record, with data going back to 1976.
As illustrated in the new impact report from NDD United, Faces of Austerity, real Americans are already feeling the negative effects of these cuts across the country and around the world. They are dragging down our economic recovery, denying children educational opportunities, leaving low-income seniors without food, hindering scientific discovery, eroding our infrastructure, threatening our ability to address emergencies around the world, and compromising public health.
Sequestration locks in these devastating cuts for the next eight years. The 57,000 low-income children who have been denied Head Start won’t be returning. The four million fewer meals delivered to low income seniors will be absent again in coming years. The 2,000 grants that could have discovered the next medical breakthrough will go unfunded. The same goes for all the other Americans who have lost opportunities and benefits, been denied services, or faced furloughs. Future years will be worse. In FY 2013, federal agencies searched for ways to minimize the impact of sequestration—using one-time savings or carry over funding to mitigate harm—but many of those options won’t be available in FY 2014 and so it will be harder and harder to avoid real harm.
Simply put, sequestration is not workable. No amount of flexibility, carve outs, or piecemeal fixes will make it so.
We cannot allow sequestration to continue. Congress has cut more than $1.6 trillion from discretionary spending and raised approximately $700 billion in revenues, even before accounting for sequestration.
The deficit reduction enacted over the past few years has come overwhelmingly from discretionary spending cuts at ratios far beyond those recommended by bipartisan, deficit reduction groups of experts. Congress must now enact a responsible FY 2014 budget that replaces sequestration with a balanced plan that recognizes the significant cuts already made to discretionary programs. In so doing, relief from sequestration must be equally balanced between NDD and defense programs, as strong investments in both NDD and defense programs are necessary to keep our country competitive, safe, and secure.
If you have questions about this letter, please contact Emily Holubowich, Executive Director of the Coalition for Health Funding (202-484-1100 or eholubowich@dc-crd.com). An electronic copy of this letter, as well as Faces of Austerity, is available at www.nddunited.org.
Sincerely,
317 Coalition
9to5
AASA: The School Superintendents Association
Academic Pediatric Association
Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Radiology Research
AcademyHealth
ACRIA (AIDS Community Research Initiative of America)
Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research
Advocates for Better Children’s Diets
Aerospace Industries Association
African American Health Alliance
Afterschool Alliance
AIDS Action Baltimore
AIDS Alliance forWomen, Infants, Children, Youth & Families
AIDS United
Alaska Wilderness League
Alliance for Catholic Education
America Forward
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physician Assistants
American Alliance of Museums
American Anthropological Association
American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for Dental Research
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of OsteopathicMedicine
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Association of Community Colleges
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Association on Health and Disability
American Astronomical Society
American Bird Conservancy
American Brain Coalition
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American College of Preventive Medicine
American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
American Commercial Space Weather Association (ACSWA)
American Council for School Social Work
American Council on Rural Special Education
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
American Counseling Association
American Cultural Resources Association
American Dance Therapy Association
American Dental Education Association
American Educational Research Association
American Federation of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
American Geophysical Union
American Heart Association
American Humanist Association
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American Library Association
American Lung Association
AmericanMathematical Society
AmericanMental Health Counselors Association
AmericanMeteorological Society
AmericanMusic Therapy Association
American Nurses Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Organization of Nurse Executives
American Pediatric Society
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Public Health Association
American School Counselor Association
American Sexual Health Association
American Society for Biochemistry andMolecular Biology
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
American Society of Plant Biologists
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
American Society on Aging
American Sociological Association
American Thoracic Society
Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief (ANSR) Alliance
Americans for the Arts
America’s Service Commissions
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
Arthritis Foundation
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare
Association for Career and Technical Education
Association for Psychological Science
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Association of Academic Health Centers
Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries
Association of Accredited Public Health Programs
Association of American Geographers
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of American Universities
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
Association of Departments of Family Medicine
Association of Ecosystem Research Centers
Association of Educational Service Agencies
Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs
Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities
Association of Low/Mid LOT Schools
Association ofMaternal & Child Health Programs
Association ofMedical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association ofMinority Health Professions Schools
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
Association of Research Libraries
Association of School Business Officials International
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
Association of Science-Technology Centers
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Association of State Public Health Nutritionists
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Association ofWomen’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Autism National Committee
AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention
Benetech
Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation
Biophysical Society
Brain Injury Association of America
Bread for theWorld
Business-Higher Education Forum
Campaign for Youth Justice
Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce
Campus Compact
Cancer Support Community
Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities
Center for Effective Government
Center for Innovation in Health and Human Services
Center for Reproductive Rights
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Centering Healthcare Institute
ChangeLab Solutions
Charlene Miers Foundation for Cancer Research
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Children’s Leadership Council
Children’s Mental Health Network
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
City Year, Inc.
Clean Water Action
Coalition for Health Funding
Coalition for the Life Sciences
Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations
College Possible
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service, Inc. (COA)
Committee for Education Funding
Community Access National Network – CANN
Community Action Partnership
Consortium of Social Science Associations
Cooley’s Anemia Foundation
Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy
Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders
Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Opportunity in Education
Council of Administrators of Special Education
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Council of State Community Development Agencies
Council of the Great City Schools
Council on Social Work Education
Council on Undergraduate Research
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
Crop Science Society of America
CSH
Defenders of Wildlife
Directors of Health Promotion and Education
Disability Policy Consortium
Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)
Dystonia Advocacy Network
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
Easter Seals
Ecological Society of America
Emergency Nurses Association
Epilepsy Foundation
Esophageal Cancer Action Network
Every Child By Two
Fair Share
FED ED
Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences
Fight Colorectal Cancer
First Candle
First Focus Campaign for Children
Friends of AHRQ
Friends of NCHS
Futures Without Violence
Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)
GBS/CIDP Foundation International
Geological Society of America
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC)
Healthy Teen Network
Heartland Alliance
Hepatitis B Foundation
Hepatitis Foundation International
Heritage Preservation
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
HIV Dental Alliance
HIV Medicine Association
HIV Prevention Justice Alliance
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
IDEA Infant Toddlers Coordinators Association (ITCA)
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Innocence Project
Institute for Educational Leadership
InterAction
Intercultural Cancer Council Caucus
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS)
International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium
International Myeloma Foundation
International Reading Association
Interstitial Cystitis Association
Jeffrey Modell Foundation
Joint Advocacy Coalition of ACTS and CR Forum
Jumpstart for Young Children
Justice for Families
Justice Policy Institute
Knowledge Alliance
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
LeadingAge
League of American Orchestras
League of Conservation Voters
Learning Disabilities Association of America
Lifelong
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Long-term Ecological Research Network
Lupus Foundation of America
Lupus Research Institute
Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America Disability Network
Magnet Schools of America
March of Dimes Foundation
Marfan Foundation
Meals On Wheels Association of America
Medical Library Association
Meharry Medical College
Mental Health America
Mercy Housing
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Metropolitan Community Churches
Military Impacted Schools Association
MomsRising
Morehouse School of Medicine
NAPHSIS
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National 8002 Impacted Schools
National Adult Protective Services Assn.
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Affordable Housing Management Association
National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc.
National AHEC (Area Health Education Center) Organization
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations
National Alliance of Faith and Justice
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Alopecia Areata Foundation
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
National Association for College Admission Counseling
National Association for County Community and Economic Development
National Association for Music Education
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of Federally Impacted Schools
National Association of Graduate-Professional Students
National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP)
National Association of Private Special Education Centers
National Association of Pupil Services Administrators
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc)
National Association of State Directors of Special Education
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs
National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)
National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers
National Association ofWorkforce Development Professionals
National Black Women’s HIV/AIDS Network, Inc.
National Blood Clot Alliance
National Center for Healthy Housing
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Center for Technological Literacy at the Museum of Science, Boston
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Coalition for Literacy
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Coalition of STD Directors
National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
National Community Development Association
National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers
National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
National Consumers League
National Council for Behavioral Health
National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP)
National Council for Diversity in the Health Professions
National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
National Council of State Directors of Adult Education
National Council of State Housing Agencies
National Council on Aging
National Criminal Justice Association
National Disability Rights Network
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Education Association
National Employment Law Project
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association
National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
National Head Start Association
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
National Hemophilia Foundation
National HEP CAMP Association
National Hispanic Council on Aging
National HispanicMedical Association
National Housing Conference
National Humanities Alliance
National Immigration Law Center
National Indian Health Board
National Indian Impacted Schools Association
National Juvenile Justice Network
National League for Nursing
National League of Cities
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Network for Youth
National Network of Public Health Institutes
National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Organization for Rare Disorders
National Parks Conservation Association
National Psoriasis Foundation
National PTA
National Respite Coalition
National Rural Education Association
National Rural Health Association
National Rural Housing Coalition
National School Boards Association
National Skills Coalition
National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association
National Spasmodic Torticollis Association
National Superintendents Roundtable
National Title I Association
National Tourette Syndrome Association
National Urban League
National Violence Prevention Network
National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable
National WIC Association
National Wildlife Federation
National Writing Project
Natural Resources Defense Council
Nemours
NephCure Foundation
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
New York Stem Cell Foundation
North American Primary Care Research Group
Oncology Nursing Society
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Parents as Teachers
Parkinson’s Action Network
PHI – Quality Care though Quality Jobs
Physician Assistant Education Association
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Population Action International
Population Association of America/Association of Population Centers
Population Connection
Population Institute
Preservation Action
Prevent Blindness America
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Project Inform
Provincial Council of the Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians)
Public Allies Inc
Public Health Institute
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition
Reading Partners
Rebuilding Together
Research!America
Restore America’s Estuaries
RESULTS
Results for America
Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition
Safe States Alliance
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
School Social Work Association of America
Scleroderma Foundation
SEDL
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
Sierra Club
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Society for Historical Archaeology
Society for Industrial and AppliedMathematics
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Society for Neuroscience
Society for Pediatric Research
Society for Public Health Education
Society forWomen’s Health Research
Society of Behavioral Medicine
Society of General Internal Medicine
Society of Systematic Biologists
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
Soil Science Society of America
Special Olympics International
Spina Bifida Association of America
Stand Up for Rural America
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
Student Conservation Association
Susan G. Komen
Teach For America
Technical Assistance Collaborative
TESOL International Association
The Advocacy Institute
The AIDS Institute
The American Society for Cell Biology
The Arc
The College Board
The Community Builders, Inc.
The Corps Network
The Education Trust
The Endocrine Society
The Global Justice Institute
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The National Pancreas Foundation
The Science Coalition
The Trust for Public Land
The Wilderness Society
Treatment Communities of America
Trust for America’s Health
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health
UNAVCO
UNCF
United for Medical Research
Unity Fellowship Church Movement
US Climate Action Network
USAgainstAlzheimer’s
Vera Institute of Justice
Voices for National Service
Vradenburg Foundation
WomenHeart: The National Coalition forWomen with Heart Disease
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
WorldWildlife Fund
YMCA of the USA
Young Invincibles
YouthBuild USA