Dear Health Advocates,
Last week, the Senate passed their version of the budget blueprint, which details different reconciliation instructions for the House and Senate committees. The new budget plan combines the House GOP’s original framework of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts with the bare-bones Senate plan, which guarantees only $4 billion in spending cut targets and more room for tax cuts that aren’t fully paid for.
Now, Senate and House Republicans need to identify and negotiate their proposed cuts. They must determine how to meet conservatives' demands for deep spending cuts while retaining moderates' support, even as potential benefit cuts cause heartburn. Although the House approved the Senate resolution text with a vote of 216-214 last Thursday, two Republicans (Reps. Victoria Spartz and Thomas Massie) voted no. To move forward, Republicans must conference and vote again on a budget reconciliation package.
Congress is away for their two-week April recess this week, and will not return until Monday, April 28. These next two weeks are CRUCIAL in our advocacy efforts to protect and defend Medicaid from these potentially disastrous cuts. May 9 has been set as the target date for committees to finish their markups, with House Energy and Commerce Committee potentially meeting as early as May 5 to begin its work.
Families USA and our partners have a few ways for you to be active during this recess period to tell your members: No cuts to Medicaid! -
Families USA recently published our Health Action Resources List on our website, in which we compile resources from our partners for all of you to access in one place. You can find that page here.
|
