WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association voiced support today for the bipartisan budget plan before Congress that would lift the spending caps that have hamstrung essential educational, health and research programs.
APA has joined a national alliance of 2,500 national, state and local organizations working to protect investments in core government functions such as research, education, graduate training and health and human services. APA, along with alliance members, has been fighting to lift mandatory budget caps, replace harmful sequestration cuts, increase appropriations for core programs and protect those most affected by safety net programs.
“In 2011, Congress passed the Budget Control Act, which contained 10 years’ worth of binding spending caps — so without separate legislation, Congress can’t approve additional spending, even if national needs grow,” said Howard Kurtzman, PhD, APA’s executive director for science. “And on top of those caps is sequestration, which implements automatic cuts if Congress can’t agree on spending.”
“This bipartisan compromise budget deal addresses both these problems and provides solutions that help psychologists and those they serve,” added Gwendolyn Puryear Keita, PhD, the association’s executive director for public interest.
This plan lifts the budget caps for two years. It also protects the most vulnerable citizens by extending the solvency of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and preventing a 25 percent cut in benefits. SSDI protects those who are disabled, including those with serious mental disorders. “This important deal prevents increases in premiums and deductibles for federal health programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities,” Keita added.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.