Congresswoman Brown Votes Against Republican Spending Bill That Cuts Domestic Programs and Empowers Musk Chaos

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11)voted against the House Republican spending bill. Unlike standard Continuing Resolutions, the 99-page partisan Republican bill cuts nondefense programs and services by $13 billion overall, undermines veterans’ health care and Social Security, underfunds nutrition programs for seniors and emergency food assistance programs, and cuts funding to the Army Corps of Engineers, which regularly maintains Cleveland Harbor.  

 

The legislation also gives Trump and Musk the ability to freeze and redirect existing funds and does not include Fiscal Year 25 Community Project Funding requests submitted by Congresswoman Brown and other members of the House. 

 

“This isn’t a clean funding bill – it’s a blank check to Trump and Musk to play games with the federal budget and freeze more funds. This Republican legislation cuts domestic programs that my constituents need, undermines VA health care, undermines Social Security, and jeopardizes local infrastructure and community projects. Which explains why they won’t have any Town Halls back home. Republicans did not spend one minute working with Democrats on this bill – it’s an insult to the people we represent. I will not hand Trump and Elon a blank check,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.  

 

Last year, Congresswoman Brown submitted Community Project Funding requests for local infrastructure projects in Cleveland, University Heights, education programming at Tri-C, public safety funding for the City of Cleveland and more.  

 

The Republican bill fails to include additional funding needed to fully deliver PACT Act benefits for veterans exposed to chemical toxins, and allows Trump and Musk to fire thousands of employees at the Social Security Administration, resulting in local office closures, longer wait times, and benefit backlogs.    

 

As Vice Ranking Member on Agriculture, Congresswoman Brown is also concerned that the legislation neglects to fully fund the Emergency Food Program (TEFAP) by $20 million at a time of rising food costs and would leave 25,000 seniors unable to participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.  

 

For a Fact Sheet on the legislation prepared by House Appropriations Democrats, click here.