STONECREST, GA –Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) said that millions of Americans are facing peril as the Trump administration makes drastic cuts to services for needy children, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. 

Johnson held a community meeting on last Friday, May 9,  with local nonprofits, parents and experts in the field of providing critical services to children in need, including the YMCA, Head Start, Easter Seals, Sheltering Arms and others to discuss the impact of drastic cuts to programs that keep children safe and healthy. 

“I’m seeing firsthand what Republican program cuts could jeopardize – it’s a very serious dilemma our country now faces,” said Rep. Johnson. “Are we going to invest in people, or are we going to give tax cuts to those at the top? I’m also struck by how many medical and service providers’ livelihoods are at stake – there are so many people whose job it is to deliver these services. I, for one, am going to keep fighting for these critical programs.”

The Republican budget bill moving through Congress cuts Medicaid and food assistance by $1 trillion, ripping away basic needs programs that help tens of millions of everyday Americans. The Republican budget will cause nearly 14 million Americans to lose their health care and raise health care costs for millions more. Hospitals across America will close, critical services will be cut, and as one of the roundtable participants said, people will die. The Republican budget takes food assistance away from millions of kids, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Federal dollars underpin the services upon which all Georgians — including babies and toddlers — rely. Without these dollars, hospitals will continue to close, more children will be food insecure, and parents will be unable to work due to lack of childcare. These funding reductions will harm all Georgians and the state’s economy; however, the effects will be felt most severely by those most vulnerable, including children.

Johnson was joined by a parent whose Medicaid grants helped his 10-month-old with leukemia and a mother whose twins’ access to Head Start lets her earn a living during the day. Also in attendance Hanah Goldberg, Director of Research and Policy, GEEARS; Alejandra Martinez, Director of Family Services, Sheltering Arms; Andria McMichael, Vice President of Early Learning, YMCA of Metro Atlanta Head Start; Donna Davidson, President & CEO of Easter Seals of North Georgia (ESNG); Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director, Voices for Georgia’s Children; Chad Jones, Vice President for Business Development, View Point Health; Matt Pieper, Chief Executive Officer, Open Hand Atlanta.

“We are worried about any cuts,” said Donna Davidson, President & CEO of Easter Seals of North Georgia. “All of the children in our program, whether its federal funding for Head Start, Medicaid or SNAP – any cuts to those programs would be devastating to so many families that are already dealing with challenges.”

Photos via Congressman Hank Johnson’s Office.