Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have passed a major budget bill that puts in jeopardy federal funding streams that our schools and communities rely on. The legislation, which now moves to the U.S. Senate, would slash taxes, steer more money to the military and border security, and pay for some of this with cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, education, and clean energy programs while adding trillions of dollars to the federal deficit. The Medicaid cuts in the budget bill would lead to 7.6 million people going uninsured, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued a statement in response to the passage of the Republicans' budget bill:  

"This budget bill cuts health care to millions, literally takes food from the mouths of poor children and weakens public education. Who benefits? The nation's richest 5%. It is a money grab for billionaires. The U.S. Senate should reject it." 
– Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers