The Events Were Headlined by Senate Democratic Leader Schumer; House Democratic Leader Jeffries; Senators Klobuchar, Baldwin, Smith, Welch, Alsobrooks; Representatives Pallone, DeGette, Clarke, Tonko, Fletcher, Foushee, McClellan, Morrison; Former CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure; and More.
Over the past week, Protect Our Care hosted events nationwide with over a dozen members of Congress, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, as well as health care advocates to condemn the extreme Republican budget. The GOP bill includes the largest Medicaid cuts in history in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. If Republicans succeed, they will hike health care costs, close rural hospitals, and rip coverage away from millions.
This week, House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees have voted to advance their legislation to slash billions from Medicaid funding. Over 70 million Americans rely on Medicaid/CHIP, including seniors, children, veterans, people with disabilities, workers who don’t get insurance through their jobs, and people who take care of their children or elderly parents. Americans across party lines oppose cuts to Medicaid, but Republicans are charging ahead to take away people’s health care in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
In addition to draconian Medicaid cuts, Republicans are raising premiums and out-of-pocket costs for tens of millions of people who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These Republican price hikes will force millions of middle-class families to lose their coverage altogether.
NATIONAL
“Reckless, Cruel, and Craven”: Senate Democratic Leader Schumer, Sens. Klobuchar, Baldwin, Smith, Welch, Alsobrooks Rail Against “Brutal” Cuts to Medicaid. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) joined Protect Our Care for a press conference condemning the Republican budget that includes the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. The Republican legislation will hike health care costs, close rural hospitals, and rip coverage away from millions. You can watch the event here and read the post-event release here.
- Brattleboro Reformer: Welch, Democrats Fight Against Proposed Medicaid Cuts
- Inside Health Policy: House GOP Leaders Eye Moving Up Work Requirements In Leadup To Friday Budget Markup
- Wisconsin Radio Network: Sen Baldwin Says House Republicans Plan to Gut Medicaid to Pay for Tax Cuts
- WAMC: Senate Democrats From the Region Criticize Proposed Republican Cuts to Medicaid
“There Are People Behind These Cuts”: House Democratic Leader Jeffries and Advocates Highlight the Cruel and Life-Threatening Impact of Republicans’ Medicaid Cuts. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Protect Our Care and health care advocates in a roundtable discussion about the harm the Republican budget will cause to seniors and families across the country. The speakers discussed how critical Medicaid has been for providing lifesaving care and coverage to their families, and how the Republicans’ budget bill jeopardizes that care for millions of Americans. You can watch the event here and read the post-event release here.
“The Fight Has Begun”: Energy and Commerce Democratic Leadership Denounce “Extreme” Republican Plan To Rip Health Care Away From Millions. House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Ranking Member on Health Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), and Vice Ranking Member Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07) joined Protect Our Care for a press conference to call out Republicans’ plan to make the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. You can watch the event here and read the post-event release here.
STATES
ARIZONA
Monday, May 12 – E&C Markup Event with Former CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and Honest Arizona: Former CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Arizona Public Health Association Executive Director Will Humble, and advocates from Honest Arizona joined Protect Our Care Arizona to discuss the latest developments in the GOP assault on Medicaid. This week, the Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce committee are nailing down the details of their plan to cut critical funding from Medicaid in order to meet President Trump’s demands to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. Medicaid is critical for Arizonans’ health and well-being, and any cuts would be catastrophic for people who rely on the program, including seniors, children, and people with disabilities.“Imposing work requirements on Medicaid recipients would strip coverage from thousands of the most vulnerable Americans including those with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and caregiving responsibilities,” said J.J. Rico, CEO, Disability Rights Arizona. You can watch the event here, and read the post-event release here.
- KJZZ: Health care and patient advocates sound the alarm about potential cuts to Medicaid
CALIFORNIA
Wednesday, May 14—E&C Markup Event with Congressman Derek Tran’s Team and California Medi-Cal Advocate: Local families that rely on Medicaid and a representative from Rep. Derek Tran’s team joined Protect Our Care CA to discuss the latest developments in the GOP assault on Medicaid. This week, the Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce committee are nailing down the details of their plan to cut $715 billion from Medicaid in order to meet President Trump’s demands to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. “I grew up on Medi-Cal.I know how important these benefits are to so many people in my district and around the country. But instead of uplifting the American people, Republicans are taking a sledgehammer to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. In CA-45 alone, more than a hundred and fifty thousand people will be hurt by these reckless cuts,” said Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45) in remarks given by his legislative team member. “I’m proud to stand with Protect Our Care to defend and expand the programs that so many of our neighbors rely on. As long as I am in Congress, I will always defend Medicaid and fight to make our healthcare system better.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
MINNESOTA
Thursday, May 15 – Energy & Commerce Committee Markup Event with Congresswoman Kelly Morrison and Health Care Advocates: Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, SEIU members, and Healthcare advocates joined Protect Our Care Minnesota to discuss the latest developments in the GOP assault on Medicaid. This week, the Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce committee are nailing down the details of their plan to cut $700 billion from Medicaid in order to meet President Trump’s demands to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. “If you get your health insurance through your employer, for example, and you think this won’t impact you, I’ve got bad news for you. You’re wrong. Because I have met with hospitals and clinics, and providers across the state, and they have been very clear that if these cuts go through, services will be cut for everyone,” said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison. “Hospitals will close their doors, which means there will be less access for everyone. So this is an everyone problem, and it’s something that every single one of us needs to pay attention to and get engaged with. We need to protect our care.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Thursday, May 15 – E&C Markup Event with Chrstin D’Ovidio and Sam Burgess: Christin D’Ovidio of Putney Consulting and Samuel Burgess of New Futures joined Protect Our Care New Hampshire to warn that cuts to Medicaid would devastate care for more than 200,000 Granite Staters, gut rural hospitals, and create a health care crisis across the state. Medicaid is critical for Granite Staters’ health and well-being. These drastic cuts would be catastrophic for over 200,000 New Hampshire residents, including 60,000 children, 20,000 seniors, and 25,000 people with disabilities. If passed, this legislation would force rural hospitals to close, strip away care from thousands, and create a budget crisis across the state. “The proposed work requirements and repeated eligibility checks are not about accountability—they’re administrative hurdles designed to kick people off Medicaid,” said Sam Burgess, Esq., Health Care Policy Coordinator, New Futures. “Whether by design or default, this will lead to mass disenrollment.” You can read the post-event release here, and watch the full event here.
- The Tip Sheet: Proposed Cuts to Medicaid Put Coverage at Risk for 200,000+ Granite Staters
- Patch: Proposed Cuts to Medicaid Put Coverage at Risk for 200,000+ Granite St
- WMUR: NH health care advocates warn about risks to rural area if Medicaid cuts are approved
NEW YORK
Thursday, May 15 at 11:30 AM ET – E&C Markup Event with Congressmembers Paul Tonko and Yvette Clarke: Congressman Paul Tonko and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke — members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee — joined Protect Our Care New York to discuss the latest developments in the GOP assault on Medicaid. This week, the Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to pass their plan to cut $700 billion from Medicaid in order to meet President Trump’s demands to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. “Let’s be clear: this proposal isn’t just an abstract policy debate. It’s a direct threat to the health and dignity of millions of Americans,” said Congressman Paul Tonko. “I’ve met with families across New York who rely on Medicaid for life-saving treatments, for in-home care that allows seniors to stay in their communities and for critical support for children with complex medical needs. Slashing these funds to hand tax breaks to billionaires is morally indefensible. We should be strengthening the safety net, not tearing it apart.” Congresswoman Yvette Clarke said, “Medicaid is more than a program — it’s a promise. A promise that in this country, no one should have to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need. The GOP’s proposal breaks that promise in the worst possible way. It puts the profits of the wealthy ahead of the health of our children, our elderly, and people with disabilities. New Yorkers will not stand quietly while Washington plays politics with our lives.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- WBFO-FM (4pm): New York Reps Tonko and Clarke Speak Out Against Medicaid Cuts
- WBFO-FM (7am): New York Reps Tonko and Clarke Speak Out Against Medicaid Cuts
- WXXI-FM: Growing number of politicians, organizations speak out on proposed cuts
NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, May 12 – Energy & Commerce Committee Markup Event with Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and Health Care Advocates: Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, State Senator Natalie Murdock, and Ashley Robinson of Little Lobbyists joined Protect Our Care North Carolina to discuss the latest developments in the GOP assault on Medicaid. “In the fourth district alone, 107,000 people depend on Medicaid for health coverage with roughly half of them being children under the age of 19,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “These cuts aren’t just numbers on a page, they are real people, real families who are being impacted and will face greater hardships as a result of this administration’s actions.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
VIRGINIA
Thursday, May 15 – Energy & Commerce Committee Markup Event with Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and Health Care Advocates: Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, health care advocates, and storytellers joined Protect Our Care Virginia to discuss the latest developments in the GOP assault on Medicaid. This week, the Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce committee are nailing down the details of their plan to cut $715 billion dollars from Medicaid in order to meet President Trump’s demands to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. “Due to these changes, you lose your health insurance under Medicaid, you lose your subsidy to be able to purchase insurance through the Marketplace. That’s how we get to 13.7 million people who will lose health insurance,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. “Those costs will go to the rest of us. Providers will feel the stress of that. We will have rural hospitals threatening to close again, like we did before we expanded in Virginia. About 200,000 Virginians stand to lose access to their health care here. And why? Why are we doing this? To fund tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% by making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- Virginia Mercury: McClellan, Virginia Democrats warn of dire impact to state if proposed Medicaid cuts materialize
- 13NewsNow: Newly proposed bill threatens Medicaid expansion enrollment in Virginia
- WVEC: Proposed GOP cuts to Medicaid