GOP’s Actions Preventing Americans From Eating
Speaker of the House John Boehner and his House Tea Party Republicans are enjoying their government shutdown, which follows in the footsteps of their government sequester, but most Americans are not happy at all. Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee may like yelling fire in a crowded Congress, upsetting centuries of tradition that guide orderly lawmaking, but average Americans, and those in extraordinary need, aren’t invited onto “Meet The Press” to talk about their “vision” for America.
Yes, sadly, those Americans whose voices aren’t given free access to CNN, Fox News, or MSNBC platforms to share — or spin — their stories are of course the ones who are most affected by a shuttered and sequestered federal government.
When the sequester hit in March, it hit ordinary Americans who rely on food stamps and other critical and life-saving government services hard. It also hit hard countless non-profits and the people they work tirelessly to help.
Now that we’ve moved from sequester to shutdown, from cutting some funding and services to cutting almost all, those most in need among us are really hurting — and many are really hungry.
And it takes an extraordinary response from non-government organizations to be the safety net for an ever-growing number of Americans.
Take GMHC for instance. Gay Men’s Health Crisis was its name decades ago — today it’s just GMHC — and it is actually not only the nation’s leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy, but the world’s. And it was the first.
Based in New York City, the 31-year old non-profit told The New Civil Rights Movement yesterday what they think of how the federal government is treating the people they exist to help and care for. GMHC has been forced to reduce and lay off staff, reduce meal sizes, reduce the food they distribute, and, if that weren’t bad enough, reduce mental health services.
“Elected officials need to be in touch with their uninsured constituents who desperately need and want health care insurance. They need to listen to our clients’ stories and learn the consequences of their actions. GMHC and our clients feel those consequences every day.
“Because of the sequester and other federal funding cuts, GMHC had to reduce services and lay off staff who fulfilled those valued services that were cut,” Weinberg told us. “Even though many people living with HIV and AIDS come to our dining room to enjoy their only hot, nutritious meal of the day, cuts to these programs mean we can no longer offer them seconds. We’ve had to reduce the groceries we distribute in our food pantry program, and can no longer offer a waiting list.
“My heart sank recently when I heard that, because of cuts in mental health services, someone who came to us for help who has mental health issues and just lost his job had to be placed on a waiting list to see a counselor.”
But Weinberg promises that “despite the federal government shutdown, GMHC will continue to be here for New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.”
“We are able to stay open even though we will not receive our government grant funds during this shut down. However, we need Congress to do its job and stop playing games with people’s healthcare.â€
The government shutdown, and the sequester, have real consequences — not for members of Congress, most of whom will be re-elected from their gerrymandered districts — but for real Americans in need.
Good and vital organizations like GMHC, exist to serve. Congress is supposed to. It’s time for that to start happening again.