It’s survival of the richest. I think of a budget as a statement of priorities. It’s supposed to support working families — who are the backbone of Pennsylvania — care for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable; spur economic growth; and allot for expenses necessary to carry our country smartly and soundly into the future. And it must ensure that our environment is safe for all. What stunned me about the 2025 federal budget was the absence of these priorities, which have made the United States a beacon of light to the nations. The budget does a “Reverse Robin Hood,” transferring wealth to the rich by funding tax cuts with cuts to programs for low-income Americans. It’s literally stealing from the poor to make the rich richer. The budget evisceration of Medicaid funding will put the nail in the coffin of our already overburdened health system. If Medicaid is slashed, many of our hospitals and nursing homes will buckle and close under the impossible financial strain of caring for the uninsured. None of us can afford the destruction of our health care system. The bill also takes food off the table of food-insecure Pennsylvanians, reducing federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding by hundreds of millions. If Pennsylvania can’t fund the difference, food assistance would have to be drastically cut by either removing 1 million Pennsylvanians from the food assistance program or cutting the benefit amounts Read more

Child and youth homelessness in Pennsylvania has grown to crisis proportions over the past few years, with 46,714 children and youth identified as homeless in 2023, according to a state report. Despite this unprecedented increase in need, the federal resources that allow schools, nonprofits and other institutions to support these vulnerable young people in their educational pursuits are being cut off and are at risk of disappearing entirely. If we are serious about providing every child in Pennsylvania with the education they’ll ultimately need to land stable employment and contribute to our economy, the commonwealth must dedicate targeted state dollars to support students experiencing homelessness. Although this need has never been more urgent, federal support is evaporating. In March, the U.S. Department of Education abruptly canceled spending extensions for American Rescue Plan funds, eliminating hundreds of millions in education funding for Pennsylvania schools. This funding rescission’s effects are being felt most acutely by our most vulnerable students. The U.S. Department of Education clawed back $9.2 million specifically designated to help homeless children and youth access education. That’s a whopping 29% of the initial $36 million investment meant to support these students. Even more troubling, the budget proposal that is moving through Congress would, if passed, eliminate all funding for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Read more

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Firearm Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention Initiative Who May Apply: Units of local government, nonprofit organizations (including community-based and statewide organizations), institutions of higher education, and state government agencies. Use: To support programming that focuses on firearm-related suicide prevention. Funds: A total of $1 million in federal 2024 Byrne SCIP funds in available. PCCD expects to fund 4 to 6 grants over a 21-month period. Application Deadline: September 9, 2025 More information: PCCD Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis More information: DCED Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Who May Apply: Technical and trade schools, school districts, post-secondary academic Read more

This Sunday, LNP published my view on how the 2025 federal budget is an attack on America by eviscerating support for: working families; care for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable; environmental protections; and smart economic policies to drive growth and save money for the future. Instead, it’s survival of the richest. Read more