Young Oak Kim: “I rise today to lift up the fact that this reconciliation bill will do real harm to countless American families. It is…”

“I rise today to lift up the fact that this reconciliation bill will do real harm to countless American families. It is not theoretical or hypothetical. Families are hurting right now: the opioid crisis that has ravaged large parts of my State, the mental health crisis that people across this country are so concerned about and are begging for help about, and so many other challenges that every single family knows the fear of a health crisis. Like Susan, a mother I met at a townhall down in Egg Harbor--a townhall that was part of a series of townhalls that I did trying to highlight the challenges that so many families are facing--and in this crowded room full of hundreds of people, a woman named Susan shared her story, a mom of a 24-year-old son with Down syndrome. They use Medicaid to be able to cover his care. She broke down at the weight of her fear and worry for her child, something a lot of us can relate to. She said to me that this is the face of Medicaid. As I went over to give her a hug, I remember she said: "It's real." And it is real, and I know everyone in here knows that. I know because offices on both sides of the aisle are getting the same calls. Our phone systems broke down because of the overwhelming volume of people calling and literally begging--begging--us not to do this, begging us to protect Medicaid so their kids can see the doctors, begging us not to cut SNAP benefits so their students could have access to healthy food.”