Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to a new report released by the Obama Administration on the harm that automatic spending cuts scheduled to occur on Friday would cause in California, Rep. Julia Brownley released the following statement:
“The report released today underlines what House Democrats have been saying for months: the severe, across-the-board, automatic spending cuts that start Friday will hurt the economy and cost jobs.
“Last week, Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) announced the automatic spending cuts set to go into effect on March 1st would furlough an estimated 80% of its 5,000 civilian employees. The furlough would force affected NBVC employees on unpaid leave one day a week beginning in April, resulting in a 20% pay cut. The sequester would also hurt our seniors and children through cuts to Medicare, the elimination of Head Start programs for thousands of children, and by putting teachers’ jobs on the chopping block.
“If the automatic cuts go into effect this Friday, the people of Ventura County will pay the price. We will lose jobs and the economy will suffer.
“That is why I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to take a responsible, balanced approach to address our nation’s fiscal challenges. We need to move beyond partisan gridlock and find a responsible solution that includes a combination of targeted spending cuts, increased revenues, and job growth to move our economy forward. Congress has a choice. We can either protect tax loopholes for special interests or we can stand up together to protect national security and jobs by taking action now to avert the sequester.”
Please see below for details from the report that outlines the devastating and widespread impact to local communities in California:
Teachers and Schools: California will lose approximately $87.6 million for primary and secondary education, putting around 1,210 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 187,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 320 fewer schools would receive funding.
Education for Children with Disabilities: California will lose approximately $62.9 million for about 760 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.
Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 8,200 children in California, reducing access to critical early education.
Military Readiness: In California, approximately 64,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $399.4 million in total.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds: California will lose about $1.6 million in Justice Assistance Grants that support law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.
Job Search Assistance: Around 129,770 fewer Californians will get the help and skills they need to find employment as California will lose about $3.3 million for job search assistance, referral, and placement, meaning.
Child Care: Up to 2,000 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.
Vaccines for Children: In California around 15,810 fewer children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B due to reduced funding for vaccinations.
Violence Against Women Grants: California could lose up to $795,000 to provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 3,000 fewer victims being served.
Nutrition for Seniors: California would lose approximately $5.4 million to help provide meals for seniors.
Protections for Clean Air and Clean Water: California would lose about $12.4 million to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste.
Public Health: California will lose approximately $2.6 million to help upgrade its ability to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. In addition, California will lose about $12.4 million in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 9,400 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs. And the California State Department of Public Health will lose about $2 million resulting in around 49,300 fewer HIV tests.
Issues: 113th Congress, Budget, Jobs, Economy, and Small Business, Local Issues