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Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their minions are in the midst of illegally and permanently eliminating key government functions. They have already closed all environmental justice offices, neutered the National Labor Relations Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and are taking a hacksaw to the Environmental Protection Agency. With control of all three branches of government, Republicans have tremendous power, but to pass the spending bill, Republicans need 60 votes, which means they need Democratic support. Democrats must use their leverage to stop the illegal Musk-Trump government shutdown. They must reject the spending bill the House passed and vote NO on any spending bill that does not rein in Musk and Trump’s illegal activities. The bill that passed in the House and is now before the Senate eliminates critical spending for important food and water priorities, including: Slashing Funding for Essential Clean Water Projects Funding for rural water and wastewater projects would take a 20 percent cut. Congressionally directed spending for clean water projects would be eliminated, and the bill would eliminate $39 million in the Environmental Protection Agency’s State and Tribal Assistance Grants previously earmarked for remediation and environmental management activities. It also cuts $1.4 billion (44%) from the Army Corps’ construction budget, which funds flood control and waterway projects and protects ecosystems. Slashing Funding for Agriculture Programs United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations would be cut by 58 percent. The spending bill would also cut USDA’s Conservation Program by $19 million and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, one of the key agencies charged with responding to bird flu, by $14 million. These are BIG numbers. And these are eliminations to KEY programs that protect people and the planet. This harm will be felt by everyone across the country and rural communities in particular. Musk and Trump are already illegally executing a permanent shutdown of much of the federal government. It's up to the Senate to fight back by rejecting this disastrous spending bill and passing one that will safeguard the essential programs that keep our communities safe. Send a message to your Senators today: This disastrous spending bill is a threat to people, the planet, and our democracy. Vote NO!
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