Ranking Member Scott Statement on Trump Administration Taking Chainsaw to Social Safety Net
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor announced plans to further prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing federal programs.
“Undocumented immigrants are already prohibited from participating in many federal social safety net programs, such as SNAP benefits and Pell Grants. And when they are eligible, it is because there is a public purpose, such as treatment of communicable diseases. The right to education is another such public purpose that even the Supreme Court has recognized in Plyler v. Doe. By requiring everybody to prove their citizenship in order to receive benefits, this announcement is less about ‘cracking down on immigration’ and more about the Trump Administration undermining our core social safety net programs, while scapegoating immigrants.
“The impact of today’s announcement will be that everyone, regardless of your immigration status, will now face additional administrative hurdles to access federal programs. And ultimately, as a result, fewer people will be able to access the services they need, such as job training programs, Head Start, or substance use disorder treatment programs.
“Last week, the ‘One Big Ugly Bill’ added additional paperwork requirements to qualify for Medicaid and, according to the Congressional Budget Office, over 10.3 million people will lose their health care under that program. As if that were not enough, the Administration is now taking a chainsaw to the rest of our social safety net programs.”
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