I am writing to strongly oppose the proposed budget cuts targeting Medicaid and other critical social safety net programs. These cuts threaten the health, stability, and dignity of millions of Americans, including children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.
Medicaid: A Lifeline at Risk
Medicaid provides essential healthcare for over 90 million Americans. The proposed work requirements, cost-sharing, and stricter eligibility checks risk stripping this support from millions:
• Impact on Vulnerable Populations: Over 8.6 million people could lose coverage, including children with special needs, seniors in long-term care, and low-income families.
• Economic Consequences: Without Medicaid, medical bankruptcies will rise, straining families and local economies.
• Health Disparities: These cuts will hit communities of color and rural areas hardest, where access to affordable healthcare is already limited.
Other Critical Programs at Risk
This budget proposal also targets other essential programs:
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): Stricter work requirements could cut food assistance for over 10 million Americans, increasing food insecurity.
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families): Reduced access to cash assistance will push more families into poverty.
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income): Stricter eligibility could cut off support for seniors and people with disabilities, pushing them into extreme poverty.
• Housing Assistance (Section 8): Cuts could lead to increased homelessness, particularly for single mothers, veterans, and the disabled.
• Child Nutrition Programs (WIC, School Lunch): Cutting these programs risks the health and development of millions of children.
Real Lives at Stake
These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent real people: the single mother who relies on Medicaid for her child’s cancer treatment, the disabled veteran who uses SNAP to put food on the table, and the elderly couple who depends on SSI to afford their medication. These Americans are not just statistics—they are our neighbors, our families, our communities.
A False Choice
Cutting these programs to finance tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans is morally wrong and economically short-sighted. It will increase poverty, strain local economies, and burden our healthcare system with preventable costs. We should not be forced to choose between helping struggling families and funding tax cuts for the wealthy.
Stand with Your Constituents
I urge you to reject this budget proposal and prioritize policies that protect the most vulnerable, strengthen the middle class, and support working families. We must build a society where every American has the opportunity to thrive, not just survive.
Thank you for your service and your commitment to the well-being of all Americans.
First sent on May 15 by Elizabeth
