The budget should reflect our values

Unfortunately, I fear that these American values are being forced to take a back seat because of our failure to address the deficit and debt.

{mosads}No member of Congress, myself included, denies our debt is a problem. We must restore our sound financial footing so our children can benefit from the stable, productive America each of us enjoyed. 

But reduction of the debt is a practical necessity, not an American value in itself. It will never feed a hungry child, put a police officer on the street, or support a growing business. What makes us truly a government of and for the people is our ability to reflect our values no matter our fiscal situation, not our ability to balance the checkbook.

As President Obama prepares to release his budget this week, I fully expect it will focus substantially on the issue on everyone’s mind -— putting Americans back to work. Today, over 50 percent of Americans work for small businesses, which constitute over 99 percent of private sector businesses. It is these companies, not General Electric, Bank of America and Exxon Mobil that need our full attention. 

This year’s budget should invest in our innovative entrepreneurs by increasing funding for the Small Business Administration, which provides loans for start-ups, and the Consumer Development Financial Institution, which partners with non-profits to develop the startups communities truly need.

Creating jobs is one challenge but putting the unemployed in those jobs is a separate one entirely. Recent reports indicate over 3 million jobs are sitting unfilled, including over 600,000 in manufacturing, because employers cannot find workers with needed skills. Our workforce is in transition with the adoption of streamlined processes and modern technology. Workers need help keeping up. This budget should prepare Americans to enter today’s workforce by fully funding the Pell Grant program, and providing assistance that keeps pace with increasing educational costs for students, as well as Department of Labor training programs for displaced workers.

Nonetheless, even with growing employment and educational opportunities, our work is not done. We must still assist our neighbors in crafting safe and thriving neighborhoods. Since 2010, Congress has cut almost $3 billion from the Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME Investment Partnership Program and Neighborhood Stabilization Program, making it difficult for many communities to expand affordable housing and promote strong neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the Section 8 program, which was designed to help very low-income families, seniors, and the disabled afford decent housing, can only serve one in four families who are eligible due to funding limitations. This budget should make its goal accessible and safe housing for all.  

Once our families are back on their feet, we must help them avoid the pitfalls that lead back to unmanageable debt, bankruptcy and foreclosure. Now that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has strong leadership, this budget should provide it with the funding needed to protect vulnerable families from deceptive and predatory lending practices that foretell a return to financial trouble.

Contrary to the assertions of some of my colleagues, Americans who are struggling to find work, afford additional education or locate safe, affordable housing often cannot raise themselves up without assistance. With no income and unaffordable rents, how could they?   Members of Congress need to remember that these are not some far off apparition or ideological fabrication. They are our constituents, and they need our help.

President Obama has shown repeatedly that he knows this. I am confident that his budget will return critical investments in people back to the levels where they belong.

As we kick off this budget season, we all have an opportunity to set partisanship aside and practice the core values that made us the world’s strongest democracy. Americans do not stand idly by, quibbling over differences while their neighbors suffer. Congress should be no different. Our budget should reflect the needs of our people, not our politics.

Rep. Carson (D-Ind.) is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services.