Jack Reed: “I rise today to join my colleagues, and particularly Senator Baldwin, in expressing my strong opposition to the…”

“I rise today to join my colleagues, and particularly Senator Baldwin, in expressing my strong opposition to the Republican budget resolution and deep concern over the future of the Medicaid program. This resolution has one main priority: gutting programs like Medicaid and food stamps to pay for a $4.5 trillion--that is right--trillion- dollar tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. Donald Trump calls this ``one big, beautiful bill,'' but it is a bill that average Americans and the most vulnerable will be paying for years to come. Among the most egregious and cynical cuts are the proposed cuts to Medicaid. These are expected to be at least $880 billion under the budget that President Trump favors. Cuts of this magnitude would be devastating to the 80 million Americans who rely on Medicaid and the related Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP. We are talking about essential healthcare coverage for children, seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, among other vulnerable populations. In my home State of Rhode Island, Medicaid provides crucial healthcare and peace of mind for over 300,000 of my constituents, about one-third of the State. If you think Medicaid is some program far removed from your life, I can tell you, you are wrong. So many of our friends, families, and neighbors are served by the Medicaid program. It is not a program for poor people alone.…”