Late last night, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler opposed H.R. 1, an irresponsible continuing resolution that drastically cut investments in America’s future for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, while not genuinely addressing our national debt. The bill, and various amendments to it, had been debated on the House floor for much of the week.

“We must reduce federal spending and the debt being passed on to future generations of Americans, but we must do so thoughtfully and while also making smart investments in our future,” Shuler said. “The bill that was before the House this week was not forward-thinking at all. Rather than helping students gain the education they need to compete in the global market, this bill slashed education from Head Start to financial aid for college students. Rather than helping families struggling in this economy, this bill slashed funding to WIC. Rather than protecting our communities, this bill slashed COPS grants that put extra police on the streets. And rather than creating jobs and building a stronger America for tomorrow, this bill slashed investments in our country’s infrastructure.”

H.R. 1 cut funding for Head Start by $1.1 billion, resulting in more than 200,000 children across the country being forced out of the program and layoffs of 55,000 staff. Cuts to Pell Grants would result in the maximum award being reduced by $845 per student and force more than 1.7 million students to lose access completely.

Additionally, WIC, or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, which assists low-income, nutritionally at-risk pregnant women, new mothers, and children would be cut by $747.2 million.

The COPS program, which provides grants to local and state law enforcement to hire additional officers to keep our communities safe, faced a reduction of nearly $300 million. The cut would eliminate approximately 1,330 police officers across the country. Western North Carolina has received more than $15 million in COPS grants since its inception.

National Infrastructure Investments would be reduced by $600 million further delaying the much needed investments in our decaying infrastructure system.

While cutting funding to numerous federal programs supported by both Democrats and Republicans, this bill, protected billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to large multinational oil companies.

“I cannot and will not allow reckless and senseless cuts to programs that invest in our people and our future,” Shuler concluded. “I will never stop working to balance our nation’s budget, but I won’t allow it to be done on the backs of the poor and young people who are trying to better themselves through education.”