02.12.18

Scott: Trump’s Budget Proposal Shortchanges Students and Workers

WASHINGTON Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the White House released an outline of its Fiscal Year 2019 budget priorities. 

“The administration’s budget proposal does not prioritize America’s students and workers

President Trump’s budget hurts students by eliminating vital early childhood and K-12 education programs to divert $1 billion to private school vouchers; slashing federal grant aid to make college more expensive; and, continuing to woefully underfund special education. Additionally, a separate infrastructure proposal by this administration would siphon funds from the Pell grant program to fund short term workforce training initiatives which also lacks a dedicated federal funding stream. 

“President Trump’s budget undermines workers by gutting programs that help level the playing field for workers impacted by trade, cutting the safety net for workers disabled from job-related injuries, and reducing funds for training programs for disadvantaged youth by almost 25 percent. Moreover, the administration continues to wage war on Americans' health care by proposing to repeal of the Affordable Care Act, to roll back protections for people with preexisting conditions, and to gut Medicaid. 

“When confronted with the budget, choices must be made. The administration has obviously prioritized a 1.5 trillion dollar tax cut for primarily millionaires and corporations. Instead, I believe we should be choosing a budget that supports public education, creates good-paying jobs, and protects our health care.”

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