FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 17, 2015
Contacts: Colin Seeberger, colin.seeberger@younginvincibles.org, 214.223.2913; Sarah Lovenheim, sarah.lovenheim@younginvincibles.org, 585.746.8281
House FY16 Budget Harms Young People by Cutting Funds for Higher Education, Job Programs, and Health Care
Today, the House Budget Committee released their fiscal year 2016 budget, which harms young adults’ economic security in the areas of higher education, jobs, and healthcare.
Jennifer Wang, policy director at Young Invincibles, said:
“Congress must not balance the federal budget by saddling students and their families with more debt, but the House FY16 Budget does just that. The House plan proposes roadblocks to eligibility for Pell Grants, including some that would bar students entirely from receiving this important aid for college. It also slashes all mandatory funding for Pell Grants, which would leave Pell Grants even more vulnerable to future cuts during the appropriations process. The budget also recommends the use of so-called “fair-value accounting” on student loans to disincentivise the government from strengthening education funding. Students and families deserve real investments, not huge cuts to grants for college and accounting tricks.”
“By consolidating job training programs, this budget also threatens workforce programs that target young adults trying to get back on their feet after the Great Recession. And, this budget also dismantles the Affordable Care Act, which has already resulted in health care coverage for millions of young people. It also attacks Medicaid expansion, which helps low-income families receive critical health services. Now is not the time to roll back job and healthcare policies that have been working for young people.”
To invest in our generation, Young Invincibles has advocated for:
- Mandatory funding for Pell Grants, year-round Pell Grants, raising maximum Pell Grants to match average in-state tuition at four-year public institutions, and indexing Pell Grants to inflation
- Strengthening health care coverage for young adults
- Well-targeted jobs programs that help unemployed young adults