Washington, DC – Yesterday, House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chair Debbie Dingell (MI-06), House Administration Committee Ranking Member Joe Morelle (NY-25), Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), and Americans impacted by Republican attacks on health care joined a virtual press call closing out “Stop Taking Our Health Care,” a month-long nationwide campaign to hold Republicans accountable for their efforts to rip away health coverage from working families.
Congressional Republicans’ historic cuts to Medicaid and elimination of enhanced health care tax credits have sent premiums skyrocketing, put an estimated 15 million Americans at risk of losing their health coverage, and put hundreds of rural hospitals across the country at risk of closure – all while giving tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. They’ve even threatened further cuts to health care to pay for their unnecessary war in Iran.
The Stop Taking Our Health Care campaign – backed by Unrig Our Economy, Social Security Works, Economic Security Project Action, and nearly two dozen national and local groups – hosted nearly 40 events nationwide, mobilizing Americans to demand that Republicans stop cutting health care to pay for their billionaire tax breaks and war in Iran.
“Millions and millions of people are about to lose their health care. All to subsidize tax breaks for billionaires. The health care costs for every single American family right now is going through the roof,” said House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02). “There is a second reconciliation bill that is going through Congress right now. Does that have even one dime to go to health care? No. Does it have a dime to address any of the other rising costs facing the American people? No. Oh, but it does have $1 billion for Donald Trump’s ballroom after he said repeatedly no taxpayer money would be needed for such a vanity project. This White House and its enablers in Congress don’t give a damn about American families. They only care about ballrooms and tax breaks for billionaires.”
“Across this country, people are feeling the continued attacks on their health care. I’m hearing every single day from parents that are trying to keep up with rising costs, from seniors who are worried that they’re going to lose the coverage that they depend on and if Medicare is going to be there for them,” said House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chair Debbie Dingell (MI-06). “Working families are bearing the burden. A lot of these cuts have been made so that billionaires can get tax cuts, but people can’t go to the doctor when they need to go to the doctor. That’s why the Stop Taking Our Health Care campaign matters. It’s about accountability. It’s about making sure that people understand what’s at stake, and that they make sure their voices are heard.”
“Republicans, under the first year of the Trump administration’s second term, gutted SNAP and took $900 billion away from Medicaid over the next several years. And they’re going to continue to fight against quality, affordable health care for all Americans,” said House Administration Committee Ranking Member Joe Morelle (NY-25). “This is not an abstract thing. This is going to literally mean people will be without health insurance. A lot of working men and women and small business owners who use the Affordable Care Act exchange to be able to get quality, affordable health care can’t any longer. And we’re asking people who are struggling to do more paperwork and to jump over more hurdles for health care, but we didn’t ask a single thing of billionaires when we gave them a tax break.”
“Republicans and Donald Trump have slashed over 1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Why? To bankroll tax breaks for the ultra wealthy and major corporations. They are literally trading the health of our neighbors, for the profits of a few,” said Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07). “To the families, we see you. To those of you who claim there isn’t enough money for health care while spending billions on endless wars and corporate giveaways, we don’t believe you. Our message today is simple, hands off Medicaid, hands off Medicare, hands off affordable health care.”
“My husband and I get our health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. We retired several years ago. One of my daughters and her three children rely on Medicaid. My husband has pre-existing conditions, so we definitely need insurance. Our family knows what it’s like to struggle to find and afford health care. That’s why these programs matter so much to us,” said Nebraska resident Audrey Horn. “Republicans in Congress voted to cut health care for families like mine. The bronze plan I have went up $688 per month. We’re not expecting a free ride, but you can’t expect a regular middle class couple to pay $2,433.27 a month. We need lower costs. We need affordable care, and we need leaders in Washington who protect our health care instead of cutting it.”
“I have cerebral palsy, but it doesn’t stop me from living my life. I work part time, I volunteer, and I’m out in my community every day. Medicaid makes that possible. It pays for the care I need, to live independently, to work, and to give back. Without it, my life would look different,” said New York resident Tiffany Mason. “When Republicans in Congress cut Medicaid, they didn’t just cut a line in the budget. They cut the care that helps people like me live independently. People will lose coverage, and care will get harder to access, all so that billionaires can get tax breaks. Republicans in Congress need to stop cutting health care and start lowering costs for working families.”
Watch the full press call here.
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About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.
About Social Security Works
Social Security Works is a non-profit fighting to protect and expand Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—because everyone deserves to live in dignity.
About Economic Security Project Action
Economic Security Project Action mobilizes resources and people behind ideas that build economic power for all Americans. This event is also part of ESPA’s Stop the Healthcare Heist Week of Action (May 4-10).