Richmond Leader

Republican Debt Proposal Filled with Cruel Cuts, Will Devastate Everyday Americans

Washington, D.C. – On April 26, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) voted against H.R. 2811, the Default on America Act, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The extreme legislation is filled with severe spending cuts for fundamental social safety net programs that American families, seniors, and veterans rely on every day.

“Speaker McCarthy and congressional Republicans are threatening a catastrophic, first-ever debt default if their extreme proposals are not met; however, the Default on America Act is a nonstarter. It is filled with cruel cuts that will hurt everyday Americans and drastically diminish Virginians’ quality of life,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “I voted against this legislation to stand up for Virginians and Americans across the nation, because their bill will jeopardize Medicaid coverage for aging Americans, drastically limit access to federal food assistance programs, and strip away childcare options for working families.”

By refusing to act now to prevent a default, House Republicans are threatening an economic disaster that will devastate everyday Americans. In Virginia’s Fourth, a debt default would:

• Kill 7,600 jobs in our district alone. Nationwide, a default could kill more than 7 million jobs.
• Jeopardize Social Security payments for 98,000 families in our district and disrupt approximately $164,000,000 dollars in monthly Social Security income.
• Put health benefits at risk for 315,000 people in our district who rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs health coverage.
• Threaten the retirement savings of 104,500 people near retirement in our district, eliminating $20,000 from the typical retirement portfolio.

McCarthy’s Default on America Act is not a viable alternative. In Virginia, his debt proposal would:

• Threaten access to food assistance for 22,000 people aged 50-55.
• Eliminate preschool and childcare for at least 4,900 children.
• Increase housing costs for at least 13,400 people.
• Make college more expensive for at least 162,900 students.
• Eliminate at least two air traffic control towers.
• Cut at least 180 rail safety inspection days.

“Not only would the Default on America Act disinvest in our nation by cutting at least $142 billion to the vital services and protections Americans value, need, and deserve, but it also desperately tries to undermine key legislative accomplishments made by President Biden and congressional Democrats,” continued Congresswoman McClellan. “Republicans’ extreme proposal seeks to eliminate historic investments that Virginians in our Commonwealth and Americans across the nation benefit from now. It seeks to halt our continued efforts to address the climate crisis and environmental injustice by repealing clean energy tax provisions and slashing funds for important EJ initiatives. For instance, the Default on America Act would cut nearly $2 billion from the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program, which seeks to reconnect communities that have been cut off or divided from urban renewal projects or other infrastructure barriers. Funding for this program was championed by my predecessor, the late Donald McEachin, and would have major impacts for the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood in our district. These devastating cuts would adversely affect American families, with low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately bearing the brunt of these financial cuts.”

More information on the impacts of a debt default on Virginia’s Fourth can be found here, and more information on the impacts of the Default on America Act on Virginia’s Fourth can be found here.

Original source can be found here