This statement can be attributed to Olivia Golden, executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

Washington, D.C., September 18, 2019—Today’s release of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill for FY2020 is another example of Senate Republicans bending to President Trump’s demands—and a sharp contrast to the two-year bipartisan spending deal passed just last month. This time, the Senate leadership has responded to the President’s insistence on a racist and senseless border wall by cutting $5 billion from programs that support the health, education, and livelihoods of families and individuals. In so doing, this bill means that children won’t get the child care they need, students will continue to struggle to afford a postsecondary education, our health care system won’t be able to serve those most in need, and workers won’t get the training they need to increase their earnings or the ability to receive their full paycheck, work in a safe environment, and have their basic workplace rights enforced. Programs included in this legislation constitute a lifeline for people with low incomes. CLASP asks the Senate to match the necessary investments already passed by the House of Representatives and reject this false choice between funding a divisive wall and investing in our country.