NCJW Disappointed by Final Appropriations Bill

December 20, 2007, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today expressed its deep disappointment at the outcome of the fiscal year 2008 appropriations process that resulted in a final budget which does not prioritize human needs. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder issued the following statement:

"The process of finalizing an omnibus appropriations bill was stymied by the President imposing his own 'cap' on discretionary spending of $933 billion, while at the same time insisting on $70 billion 'off budget' to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"As a result, the bill passed by Congress this week -- while it reinstated dollars for important programs such as low-income energy assistance, Title X federal family planning, and the Women, Infant, and Children feeding program (WIC) -- fails to include $23 billion badly needed to adequately fund other vital social programs such as: Head Start, child care (CCDBG), and the Social Services Block Grant.

"The process that produced this result is deeply disappointing. Domestic spending is held in a fiscal straitjacket, while spending for the war in Iraq continues unchecked. Our government's attention and resources are diverted from urgent domestic concerns and consumed by a war that does not promote peace or freedom from terrorism and that has cost thousands of lives and billions in devastation.

"We urge the President to reorder his priorities and reverse his indefinite commitment to war in Iraq. Instead, he should work to ensure that the human needs programs the nation depends on are sustained with adequate resources."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.

Contact:
Emily Alfano
202 296 2588 x5; emily@ncjwdc.org