A resolution requesting Senator Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, Representative Jim Cooper, Representative Marsha Blackburn, and the entire United States Congress to oppose budget cuts that will reduce the availability of health care services through the Medicaid program.

WHEREAS, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness has urged States and localities to adopt and implement Ten Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness; and

WHEREAS, the federal blueprint for Ten Year Plans calls for the improved coordination of mainstream services to enable homeless persons with disabling conditions to end their long-term homelessness; and

WHEREAS, the Medicaid program is the major mainstream payer for health care services that are necessary for disabled persons, both for the prevention and the resolution of homelessness; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress is currently engaged in a budget reconciliation process that includes major cuts to the Medicaid program; and

WHEREAS, reductions in the availability of health care services seriously undermine and contradict efforts to end chronic homelessness; and

WHEREAS, the Homelessness Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County is charged with ending chronic homelessness in our community; and

WHEREAS, on November 4, 2005, the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission adopted a resolution opposing any federal budget cuts that would result in the reduction of health care services.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting Senator Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, Representative Jim Cooper, Representative Marsha Blackburn, and the entire United States Congress to oppose budget cuts that will reduce the availability of health care services through the Medicaid program.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Senator Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, Representative Jim Cooper, and Representative Marsha Blackburn.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Erik Cole, Brenda Gilmore, Diane Neighbors