Human Rights First calls on Senate to Reject Punitive Reconciliation Bill

WASHINGTON D.C.— Human Rights First urges the Senate to reject the immensely harmful Reconciliation Bill narrowly passed by the House of Representatives last night.

“The passage of the budget reconciliation bill through the House marks a deeply troubling step to supercharge policies that are already severely harming communities across the country,” said Robyn Barnard, Senior Director of Refugee Advocacy at Human Rights First. “If approved by the Senate in its current form, this bill would be devastating for hardworking people and families, stripping them of educational support and healthcare coverage, cutting off millions of children from benefits of the Child Tax Credit, and denying them access to crucial humanitarian protection. This bill is an abandonment of our democratic rights, all in service to the wealthiest minority, prioritizing billionaires over hard working people. We urge the Senate to reject this catastrophic legislation.”

The House Republican’s Bill would, among other things, give:

• Around $150 billion in unrestricted funds to aid the Trump administration’s detention, including of immigrant children and families, mass deportations, and disappearances agenda. 
• Attach punitive and prohibitive penalties for immigration related applications, including a historic first $1,000 fee for asylum
• Exclude people granted refugee protection, trafficking and domestic violence victims, refugees, and people with Temporary Protected Status, among others, from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Federal Student Aid eligibility
• Cut around 4.5 million children and their families off from the benefits of the Child Tax Credit if their parents don’t have a Social Security Number (even if they pay taxes using a tax identification number)
• Cut 330 billion from critical education and workforce programs. Almost all of which would directly target student loan borrowers and low-income students.

To speak with Barnard please contact: press@humanrightsfirst.org