Tell Congress to Oppose Shutdown Bills

Tell Your Representative to Oppose Sunset Commission Creation

Action Needed:

Stop Congress from approving the creation of an unelected "Sunset Commission" which could undo our nation's vital human needs and social service programs!

As the August Congressional recess rapidly approaches, the House has decided to rush two "sunset commission" bills to the floor as early as next week! These bills, H.R. 5766, Tiahrt, R-KS and H.R. 3282, Brady, R-TX , will set up a mechanism where an unelected commission would be able to examine federal programs and create legislation to single-handedly reduce or shutdown government agencies and programs – most likely those that address the needs of poor and low income children and families.

Contact your Representative now to oppose these bills!

Background:

Proposals for Sunset Commissions have been floating around for a while under the guise of eliminating government waste and improving management of agencies, programs and services. Both the Tiahrt bill (H.R. 5766) and the Brady bill (H.R.3282) establish a commission that is appointed by the White House and Congress which then has the power to sit in judgment over all or most federal programs, recommend which programs live, die, or get changed in some way, and then force those recommendations through Congress under fast-track procedures that constrain debate and forbid amendments.

This fast track system will force crucial government programs to plead for the survival before a committee where the hearings are private and advocates will be excluded from the process.

Oppose these bills NOW, before the vote comes to the House floor next week

Resources:

* OMB Watch's Sunset Commission Resource Center:
* Two Sunset Bills Racing to Floor Vote in House
* NOW's "Starving the Government" One Woman and Family at a Time