Compiled by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (AL-07) cast a firm “no” vote Tuesday on a Republican-led continuing resolution backed by former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. She says the bill strips $14.1 million in community project funding from Alabama’s 7th Congressional District and imposes severe cuts on key programs that Alabama families depend on.
“I returned to Washington this week ready to negotiate a responsible, bipartisan solution to keep the government open,” said Rep. Sewell. “But instead of working with Democrats, House Republicans introduced a partisan bill that slashes funding for cancer research, displaces families from their homes, and threatens the preservation of our civil rights history. Alabama families shouldn’t be paying the price for tax cuts handed to billionaires. That’s why I voted no.”
According to Sewell’s office, the proposed measure would eliminate $14.1 million in previously approved funding for 15 community-based projects across her district.
Among the most damaging provisions in the bill:
• Cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — threatening funding for institutions like UAB and other research centers across Alabama.
• Reduction in rental assistance — endangering housing stability for low-income, working families.
• Deep cuts to the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund — putting civil rights landmarks at risk.
• Elimination of essential funding for the Election Assistance Commission — undermining efforts to maintain accessible voting across the country.
• Reductions in support for homeless shelters and services — worsening conditions for vulnerable populations.
• Increased instability in federal operations — including closures and disruptions at Social Security offices, Taxpayer Advocate offices, and General Services Administration buildings across the state.
• A 57% cut to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) — jeopardizing groundbreaking cancer research that benefits veterans and active-duty service members.
Sewell emphasized that the bill’s sweeping cuts would harm everyday Alabamians while shielding the wealthy. “This bill prioritizes tax breaks for the rich at the expense of our communities,” she said.
