WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11)  today renewed her call for House Republicans to take swift action on a balanced plan to stop automatic spending cuts, known as sequester, from taking effect on Friday. A new report was released by the Obama Administration today on the harm that these cuts would cause here in Ohio. 

“Today, the Obama Administration reminded us  that indiscriminate, across-the-board  cuts to the federal budget at this time threaten our economy as well as a range of vital services for children, seniors, small businesses, and our men and women in uniform.  These reductions will harm children in school, hungry seniors, college students struggling to pay tuition, the unemployed, or women who are victims of violence in Ohio and throughout the nation.”

“That is why on behalf of all my constituents,  I have joined with my colleagues to call on the House Republican leadership to do what is right for our  families, as well as the nation’s economy and security and take action this week on a balanced plan to avert these damaging and mindless spending cuts. Too much is at stake. With every passing day, the security of Ohio families and the safety of our neighborhoods are in jeopardy.” 

This new report demonstrates some of the devastating and widespread impact to local communities here in Ohio:

• Teachers and Schools:  Ohio will lose approximately $25.1 million for primary and secondary education, putting around 350 teacher and aide jobs at risk.  In addition, about 34,000 fewer  students would be served and approximately 100 fewer schools would receive funding.

• Education for Children with Disabilities: Ohio will lose approximately $22 million for about 270 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.

• College Aid and Work-Study Jobs: Around 3,320 fewer low- income students in Ohio would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college and around 1,450 fewer students will get  work-study jobs that help them pay for college.

• Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 2,500 children in Ohio reducing access to critical early education.

• Protections for Clean Air and Clean Water: Ohio would lose about $6,865,000 in environmental
funding to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste.  In addition, Ohio could lose another $981,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection

• Military Readiness: In Ohio, approximately 26,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $161.4 million in total.  Army base operation funding would be cut by about $1.9 million in Ohio.  Funding for Air Force operations in Ohio would be cut by about $3 million.

• Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds for Crime Prevention and Prosecution: Ohio will lose about $455,000 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 to Help those in Ohio find Employment and Training: Ohio will lose about $1,786,000 in funding for job search assistance, referral, and placement, meaning around 57,100 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment.

• Child Care: Up to 800 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 Ohio around 5,040 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 of about $344,000.

•  Public Health: Ohio will lose approximately $1,102,000 in funds 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, Ohio will lose about $3,310,000 in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 4200 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs. The Ohio State Department of Health will lose about $302,000 resulting in around 7,600 fewer HIV tests.

•  STOP Violence Against Women Program: Ohio could lose up to $245,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 900 fewer victims being served.

•  Nutrition Assistance for Seniors: Ohio would lose approximately $823,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.

 

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