Posted on Jul 7, 2025
Budgets Are A Reflection of the Values of a Nation: North Lawndale Employment Network Statement on Passage of HR 1
The passage of HR 1by the Senate and House on July 3rd will dramatically cut essential programs, including Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and funding for food banks and pantries for millions of Americans across the nation.
21 million Americans insured through Medicaid will now lose their healthcare coverage. Access to healthcare and food are human rights, not privileges to be earned based on income.
Our clients rely on these programs: The impact of these cuts will make it much harder for NLEN to do the life-changing work of connecting the 2,000 job seekers we serve each year to good, family-sustaining jobs. Partnerships with the Benefits Access Network, The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Nurturing Hope, Wellness West, and energy assistance programs through CEDA and LIHEAP ensure that our participants can keep themselves fed and receive life-saving physical and mental health care while enrolled in our programs, applying for jobs, and entering the workforce. Our partners heavily rely on Medicaid and funding for SNAP. These cuts will have a severe cascading effect on our ability to deliver programs and services that our clients desperately need.
Many NLEN staff members have relied on these same programs at various points in their lives before joining our organization. Their ability to access healthcare and food assistance allowed them to stabilize their lives and find not just a job – but a career path. And, are now able to pay it forward and empower everyone who comes through the doors, and aid others in gaining self-sufficiciency.
Budgets are a reflection of the values of a nation. These cuts reflect an administration that values wealth over the value of the American people: The United States is still the richest nation on earth. The US has the money to preserve – and expand – essential programs. These cuts will cost far more money than what Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump will claim that they will save, due to job losses, medical debt, and the severe cascading effects of hospital and Federally Qualified Health Center closures across the country.
What You Can Do: NLEN staff will continue to make every effort to connect our program participants to available services despite these cuts. Not all cuts will be implemented right away, and we aim to use every possible resource for our clients until that happens. Anyone interested in enrolling in our programs can contact us at outreach@nlen.org or visit https://nlen.org/inquiries/interest-form/.
In addition, you can donate today at this link or to discuss in-kind support or other contribution options, please contact our Development team at development@nlen.org.
We encourage everyone to keep raising the devastating and personal impact of this legislation – including with local and state legislators. To identify your legislator please go to this link.
The elected officials who passed this legislation work for, and are accountable to, the American public. As we face this serious challenge, we are reflecting on the words of the late John Lewis: “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
–North Lawndale Employment Network