The Senate-passed bill builds on the same devasting cuts to health care and food assistance programs which will have dire impacts on individuals, families, and communities. It includes a new cost-shift plan for SNAP that will delay cuts for two states for two years, while every other state will be forced to reevaluate their ability to pay for this crucial nutrition assistance program. The Senate bill also removed work requirement exemptions for 270,000 veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth, changing a recent policy that protected marginalized communities.
The Congressional Budget Office projects nearly 17 million people will lose health insurance due to $1 trillion in health coverage cuts and loss of access to coverage through the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits. This is compared to the 16 million CBO estimated would lose coverage under the House Bill.
Congress is racing its own clock to push this devastating legislation through, and is prepared to take away food, healthcare, and more from individuals, families, and communities.
In a time when families are struggling to put food on the table, grappling with health care costs, dealing with the high costs of college and dwindling options for student loan repayment, and other financial hardships in an ever-evolving economy, Congress is working overtime to ram their bill through an expedited process that will irreparably harm this country.
American families deserve better. Please join NASW in our fight to protect crucial programs from dangerous cuts. Contact your Senators today and tell them to vote against any version of the Budget Reconciliation bill that makes harmful cuts to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Student Loan Repayment Programs, and diminishes access to life saving tax credits like the Child Tax Credit. A personalized message goes a long way with members of Congress, so please add information to our editable email template.