Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) blasted the House Republican Leadership’s proposed spending bill for FY 2011, a plan which would slash dozens of programs critical for American security, jobs, and economic stability.  These draconian cuts include at least $8 billion from vital transportation programs, a loss that Nadler, the senior Northeastern Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says our nation cannot afford.  Nadler warned of catastrophic fallout from rolling back crucial funds for transportation growth, maintenance and safety, law enforcement, education, housing, social services, arts, and other vital programs.  He released the following statement:

“The Republican budget proposal is the product of reckless and dangerous overreach that would be devastating for middle and working class Americans, destroy thousands of jobs without replacing them, and threaten national security.  The Republicans want to cut billions in funding for roads, transit, High Speed Rail, and key infrastructure projects, effectively squashing economic development projects across the nation, eliminating quality jobs, and ensuring that our transportation systems won’t receive the maintenance and improvements they need to be safe and efficient.

“The Republicans want to cut funding to the FBI, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the COPS program, making us less safe and more susceptible to terrorist attacks.  They want to cut funding to improve wireless communications for first responders, making rescue operations more dangerous.  They want to defund our economic future by cutting investments in education, job training, community development and a wide range of social services. 

“And they are trying to do so by balancing the budget on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, cutting funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, legal services for the poor, and maternal and children’s health programs.  And, at a time when our government needs to take bold and innovative actions to create jobs and economic development, these cuts would in fact jettison thousands of existing jobs without producing new ones.  These cuts would be disastrous for millions and millions of Americans, and we must oppose them with our collective might.  With the Senate unlikely to rubber stamp such an irresponsible proposal, the Republicans now seem intent on forcing a complete government shutdown to impose their regressive agenda.”

Some of the proposed cuts to transportation:

•    $4.975 billion cut from High Speed and Intercity Rail projects already funded.
•    $710 million cut from Transit New Starts, a program which funds major transit programs in urban areas.
•    $292 million cut from the Surface Transportation Program, which funds the maintenance of roads, bridges and essential national infrastructure.
•    $150 million cut from Amtrak, the nation’s only passenger rail system.
•    $100 million cut from FRA Rail Safety.

Some of the other proposed cuts:

•    $600 million cut from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, resulting in 1,330 fewer police on the streets.  This is a U.S. Department of Justice program that advances the practice of community policing in America’s state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.
•    $74 million cut from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
•    $758 million cut from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides nutrition-rich food assistance for low-income mothers and their newborn children.
•    $400 million cut from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which assists millions of low-income households in meeting their immediate heat and home energy needs.
•    $530 million cut from the HUD Community Development Fund, which is the largest source of federal financial assistance in support of state and local neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and economic development activities.
•    $405 million cut from Community Service Block Grants, which provide federal funds to states, territories, and tribes for distribution to local agencies to support a wide range of community-based activities to reduce poverty.
•    $6 million cut from the National Endowment for the Arts, which provides critical arts funding.