WHEREAS, For over five decades, the Special Olympics has provided year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community; and
WHEREAS, Last Monday, March 25, 2019, President Donald Trump sent Congress a record $4.75 trillion budget plan that calls for increased military spending and sharp cuts to domestic programs like education and environmental programs for the 2020 fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, The budget plan, which proposes cutting education funding for the third year in a row, completely eliminates funding for the Special Olympics, which previously stood at $17.6 million; and
WHEREAS, While it is true that the elimination of funding for the Special Olympics has not gone into effect and is likely to face significant opposition from lawmakers in both chambers and across the political spectrum, the proposal nonetheless sends a strong and clear signal regarding the priorities of the Trump administration; and
WHEREAS, The American people, regardless of political party, socioeconomic status, race, or geography, largely support and understand the importance of the Special Olympics to millions of children and adults with physical and learning differences; and
WHEREAS, At a time when record numbers of Americans are in agreement about the importance of improving outcomes, understanding the fact that every person matters, and promoting an atmosphere of inclusion, Trump’s proposed cuts to the Special Olympics threaten to undermine an organization at the forefront of these progressive ideals; and
WHEREAS, The Special Olympics transforms lives and empowers real people to demonstrate what they can do and who they really are, and attempting to reduce the organization’s funding shows blatant disregard for the community of people with disabilities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That this Council does hereby condemn the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate funding for the Special Olympics.
FURTHER RESOLVED,
That copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the White House as evidence of the sentiments of this legislative body.
End