Pappas Continues to Stand Against Republican Budget Proposal to Slash Health Care and Food Programs, Cut Taxes for Billionaires
The Senate amended resolution paves the way for the GOP to add $14 trillion to the national debt, while ripping away health care from over 200,000 Granite Staters and ending Medicaid expansion in NH
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the following statement after once again voting against the Republicans’ budget proposal:
“I am a strong no on this bill and will continue to stand with my constituents against this legislation, which would gut Medicaid, kick people off their health insurance, cut food assistance, and hurt our economy. Medicaid and Medicaid expansion are essential to so many Granite Staters, helping them access preventative care, medical treatment, substance abuse treatment, and so much more. A constituent of mine who lives with Down Syndrome, Nate, shared with me earlier this week how New Hampshire’s Medicaid expansion helps him access the care he needs to work and live. When asked how he would respond to the officials who want to cut Medicaid funding, he said he would ask them: ‘Why do you hate me?’ That is how it feels to be someone who relies on Medicaid right now and knows the cuts that will come as a result of the passage of this legislation, all so Republicans in Washington can reward the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations with even bigger tax breaks. I hope my colleagues will stand up against this betrayal of working families and instead focus on how we can work together to make life more affordable for Americans.”
Background:
Republicans’ amended H. Con. Res. 14 establishes budget toplines that would force deep cuts to health care and food programs for working families to cover the cost of $7 trillion in tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. Pappas also voted against the original resolution when it first came to the floor.
This legislation would harm our health care system and the well-being of families, children, and seniors by placing the burden of $880 billion in cuts directly on the committee that oversees Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), in addition to cuts on other committees that will gut other programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In February, Pappas held a roundtable with New Hampshire health care advocates and community leaders to highlight the devastating impact the Republican budget would have on New Hampshire residents’ access to health care and local community health centers’ ability to serve their patients. In April, he held another discussion to highlight the negative impact the legislation would have on people who access care through the Medicaid program and New Hampshire’s Medicaid Expansion.