Dear Friend,

Earlier this week, in the dead of night, House Republicans passed their disastrous reconciliation bill: the largest cut to health care, food assistance, and scientific research in American history—all to hand out more tax breaks to their billionaire donors. I voted NO.

If their bill reaches Trump’s desk, here’s what it could do:

Health Care 

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in the GOP budget will lead to 13.7 million Americans losing health care coverage, including 21,412 people in our district. 

In 2010, I spent three days reading every page of the Affordable Care Act before voting on it. I voted for it, knowing it would cost me my reelection, to provide health care to millions of Americans with preexisting conditions. This time, Republicans gave us just under an hour in the dead of night to read the final version of their Big Ugly Bill to take health care away from millions. 

Reading the Affordable Care Act in 2010

Food Assistance

This bill also cuts $300 billion in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The CBO estimates that at least 3 million Americans will lose access to food assistance as a result. 

These cuts threaten the 43,000 people in IL-11 who rely on SNAP, including children and seniors.

Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

For decades, Republicans have prioritized tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of working families, and this bill is no different. They’re slashing billions in funding from essential safety net programs in order to bankroll tax cuts for their billionaire donors.

This plan would increase the net income for the top 0.1% by nearly $400,000, while the bottom 20% of earners would see their net income decrease by over $1,000. The American people deserve an economy that works for everyone—not just the ultra wealthy.

I, along with every single House Democrat, voted NO on this disastrous budget and will continue to hold Trump and Republicans accountable. I ask you to keep up the public pressure as this bill now heads for the Senate—I’ll be with you every step of the way in this fight.

Sincerely,

Bill Foster
Member of Congress