Congressional Progressive Caucus Introduces “The People’s Budget”

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), led by co-chairs Representatives Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), released “The People’s Budget: A Roadmap for the Resistance” on May 1. The document sets forth a broad, progressive vision for federal spending and policy priorities and stands in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s FY18 budget request, which called for increasing defense spending by $54 billion and cutting non-defense programs by the same amount. Mr. Trump proposed to cut HUD programs by $6.2 billion compared to FY16, which would result in more than 200,000 families losing access to rental assistance and being put at immediate risk of eviction and homelessness.

One of the stated goals of The People’s Budget is to increase access to affordable housing and to end homelessness. The proposal includes increased funding for the national Housing Trust Fund, Community Development Block Grants, and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program; rebuilding and rehabilitating public housing; restoring full funding for Section 202 Housing for the Elderly and Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities; and expanding Housing Choice Vouchers. The People’s Budget adopts Representative Maxine Waters’(D-CA) “Ending Homelessness Act,” which would provide $12.8 billion to create more than 400,000 affordable homes.

“When we invest in the American people, they have enough for retirement, can pay for their kids to go to college, and can own a home,” Mr. Ellison said. “That means our economy will grow and the next generation will be better off. That’s what The People’s Budget offers, and it’s what our country needs.”

Additionally, the proposal would maintain the Affordable Care Act, invest $2 trillion in infrastructure, and raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“The People’s Budget is a commitment to our communities and the progressive values we fight for,” Mr. Grijalva said. “Unlike the Republican alternatives that prioritize corporations and the wealthy, The People’s Budget focuses on working families and lifting them up from socio-economic inequalities.”

View the executive summary and the full budget proposal at: http://cpcbudget.org/