Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez became the first local rep to issue a blunt warning to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction–a.k.a “The Super Committee”–writing a letter to members that stated that any efforts to reduce the deficit must not include cuts to federal housing programs.

“From affordable housing, to job creation, New York’s entire economic well being could be fundamentally shaped for the next decade by the Super Committee’s decisions,” Velázquez.  “We need to make our City’s voice heard early and often throughout this process.”

Velazquez’s letter speaks to how difficult it will be for the committee to forge consensus on reducing the federal deficit. The committee was created in the wake of the debt ceiling stand-off and tasked with finding cuts and revenue increases that the rest of Congress was unable to. If they don’t, a number of automatic cuts will take effect.

Full letter below:

Letter_Super Committee on Housing Programs 09-28-11

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