Congress Seeks to Slash Health Care and Threaten a Lifeline for Over 72 Million Americans to Fund Tax Breaks for Billionaires
On January 8, Healthcare Education Project, 1199SEIU, faith leaders, community members and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care for “Hands off Medicaid” rallies to tell Congress that Medicaid cuts must be off the table as officials negotiate a forthcoming budget reconciliation package. The rallies were held outside the offices of Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY-2) in Patchogue, New York; Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) in Pearl River, New York; and Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-1) in Hauppauge, New York.
Congress is threatening to cut Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. This would mean ripping away health care from millions of families who count on it — kids, moms, seniors, people of color, rural Americans, workers whose employers don’t provide health insurance, and people with disabilities. Medicaid is the largest health insurance program in the country, providing health care to more than 70 million Americans. The consequences of any cuts to Medicaid would touch nearly every household in America.
“I’m out here today in the freezing cold because so many of our seniors depend on Medicaid, but I’m worried about the program’s future,” said Sheike Ward-Kidd, an activities aide at a Long Island nursing home. “Where would my residents go if extremist politicians slashed the program to pay for huge tax cuts for their billionaire donors? Not only would my residents lose access to their healthcare, their medicine, their meals, their activities, their friends and their caregivers, but they would lose the only home they now have if the extremists had their way.”
“We are here today to raise the alarm that federal Medicaid cuts by the incoming administration would have a devastating impact on millions of Americans,” said Milly Silva, Secretary Treasurer of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents 450,000 healthcare workers throughout the East Coast. “It would impact every community, including right here in New York where seven million residents benefit from the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Our message is simple: all elected leaders, regardless of party affiliation, must totally reject any attempts to weaken the Medicaid program.”
“We want a future where everyone can get high quality healthcare, no matter their income or where they live. But we will never achieve healthcare justice if we are facing deep and devastating cuts instead,” said Cynthia Ngombe, Healthcare Advocate at the Healthcare Education Project, an initiative of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and the Greater New York Hospital Association. “We are asking our elected officials to stand with the most vulnerable members of their communities, and keep their hands off Medicaid.”