1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

WHEREAS, the proposed budget prioritizes a $1.5 trillion defense investment—including the "Golden Dome" missile shield—while cutting non-defense stability programs by 12%; and WHEREAS, these choices mirror a "harrowing" of the vulnerable by diverting resources from essential shelter, health, and dignity services; and WHEREAS, cuts to HUD, including the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant, threaten to exacerbate the national housing crisis and increase homelessness; and WHEREAS, reduced international aid signals a retreat from humanitarian leadership, trading the "Golden Rule" of mutual aid for a "Golden Dome" of isolationism; and WHEREAS, a budget is a moral document reflecting a nation’s true values; THEREFORE, WE THE UNDERSIGNED CALL UPON CONGRESS TO: Prioritize the Golden Rule: Reject exorbitant military increases at the expense of human services. Fiscal responsibility must not be achieved by "harrowing" the poor to fund redundant defense technologies. Protect Affordable Housing: Oppose HUD cuts, specifically the Housing Choice Voucher program and local block grants. Sustain Public Health: Restore funding to HHS, the NSF, and the EPA to protect long-term environmental and community health. Uphold International Solidarity: Maintain robust funding for USAID and diplomacy over nuclear expansion. Invest in People: Ensure appropriations reflect the "common good" by investing in education and job training rather than military hardware. CONCLUSION We urge you to recognize the human cost of these proposals. Use your "power of the purse" to craft a budget that protects the marginalized and honors our moral obligations to our neighbors at home and abroad.