Rep. Ami Bera on House Passage of Republican Budget Bill

Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) released a statement following passage of the Republican reconciliation bill on the House floor:

“At a time when families across Sacramento County and the country are doing everything they can to make ends meet, House Republicans just passed a deeply irresponsible budget that takes food off the table, rips away health care from millions and burdens future generations with even more debt—all to hand out tax breaks that disproportionately benefit the ultra-wealthy.

“Let’s be clear about what this bill does: It makes the largest cuts to food assistance and Medicaid in history. It eliminates health coverage for millions of people, threatens access to care in rural and underserved communities and raises costs across the board for the poorest 10% of households in the country.

“For months, my colleagues and I in the Democratic Doctors Caucus have sounded the alarm about proposed cuts to Medicaid and how this bill would take health care away from nearly 14 million Americans. As a doctor, I’ve cared for patients who rely on Medicaid to manage chronic illnesses, get preventive care and keep their children healthy. These cuts would devastate our health care system—driving up uncompensated care costs, increasing strain on hospitals and clinics and leading to more patients showing up in emergency rooms sicker and more expensive to treat. It’s a step backward that will worsen health outcomes and raise costs for everyone.

“While this is a setback, the fight to protect Americans’ health care is not over. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to reject this reckless proposal and work with us on a budget that reflects our shared values—protecting health care, reducing child hunger, investing in working families and growing the middle class. The American people deserve better than this.”