All - in anticipation of a government shutdown at the hands of Trump and Republicans in Congress, CAC prepared the following message guidance. Let us know if you have any questions. 

CAC MESSAGE GUIDANCE – GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

President Trump and his congressional allies, who control the administration and both branches of Congress, shut down the federal government. They have put our kids and families in danger and undermined vital disaster relief. And why? The president’s chaotic mismanagement and his [racist/bigoted] policies.

• Why would President Trump put children, families and communities of color in such danger? Because he couldn’t stomach a bipartisan deal to protect 800,000 young Dreamers, provide health insurance to children -  many of whom are from the Latino and African-American communities - and deliver disaster relief to millions of Americans - including millions in Puerto Rico, many of whom still don’t have running water or power.

• When someone who has a repeated pattern of [racist/bigoted] behavior and beliefs makes and implements policies, their decisions will inevitably reflect their bias, disproportionately and negatively impacting people of color. That’s what we are seeing with President Trump’s government shutdown.
  
  
• The president’s shutdown is a moral and governing failure. And, it’s dangerous, particularly where enforcement of federal public health protections are concerned.
  
  
• Because of Trump’s shutdown, only about 5 percent of the EPA’s staff remain to protect 330 million Americans, 3.8 million square miles of American soil and 3.5 million miles of rivers. 
  
  
• Americans need agencies like the EPA – not tomorrow, but today. Families are still picking up the pieces from wildfires in California and supercharged hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Puerto Rico. The shutdown will mean those Americans will have to wait even longer before their life returns to normal.
  
  
• No matter how long the shutdown lasts, a skeleton EPA means our long-term health and wellbeing are at risk.
  • A shuttered EPA can’t monitor air quality, protect us from toxic pollution and pesticides or prevent the fouling of waterways.
  • Businesses will have to postpone plans to build or expand facilities as they wait on delayed environmental permits and licenses.
  • EPA can’t catch, stop or investigate dumping of toxic waste and industrial pollution into our drinking water.
  • The shutdown will also suspend and delay hazardous waste cleanups, also known as Superfund cleanups
    
    
• Because state environmental agencies rely on EPA support, state-level protections and enforcement are at risk too.
  
  
• Instead of doing his job to protect public lands, clean air, “crystal clean” water and our climate, Trump is shutting down the government to advance extreme and bigoted policies. The American people deserve far better.