A First Focus analysis shows that the U.S. House of Representatives’ federal fiscal year 2013 budget “reconciliation” package makes deep cuts to critical investments in children. Child nutrition, health care for uninsured children, the Child Tax Credit, child care, and child abuse prevention and response are all on the chopping block.
The First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter to every member of the House of Representatives urging them to understand the reconciliation bill’s consequences for the children they serve, before casting a ‘yes’ vote (click the image on this page to see the letter sent to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI)). Nonetheless, lawmakers passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 199.
Click here to see how your lawmakers voted. A “No” vote would have given lawmakers a chance to understand what’s at stake for kids. An “Aye” vote was a vote to make the cuts without understanding the consequences for kids.