Washington, D.C. - Congressman Charles B. Rangel today harshly rebuked House Republicans for passing a reconciliation bill that would replace deep, across-the-board budget cuts passed as part of last year’s debt ceiling agreement with cuts specifically aimed at programs providing aid for senior citizens, working parents, and children. The bill passed on a 218-199 mostly party-line vote. 

"Democrats want to reduce the deficit," said Rangel.  "But we are calling for a balanced approach that asks millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share.  Republicans have instead decided to engage in political gamesmanship by choosing to slash funds for cancer screenings, child immunizations, and programs that benefit  women and children, the poor and the elderly." 

When House Republicans passed the Ryan Budget it laid out a reconciliation process that included six committees tasked with proposing alternate cuts to the sequestration ordered by the debt ceiling deal. 

The Republican-majority committees approved cuts for funding to food stamps, the Dodd-Frank financial regulation law, and preventative screenings in the healthcare reform law.  Because the cuts are aimed largely at especially vulnerable citizens, many organizations have come out in strong opposition to the reconciliation.  Easter Seals, the National Women’s Law Center, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Voices for America’s Children have opposed the bill.

Added Rangel: "There are 1300 elderly men and women in East Harlem alone who depend on Meals-on-Wheels to remain healthy and independent.  It's morally wrong for Republicans to insist on taking away my constituents' next meal to give tax subsidies to Big Oil. Republicans need to work with Democrats to find a solution to our nation's debt problem without devastating the most vulnerable Americans. "