July 5, 2025
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, as Republicans made their first attempt to ram their so-called “big, beautiful bill” through the House, I fought tooth and nail to stop this historically devastating budget scheme. Through several sleepless nights at the Capitol, I stood up again and again and again in opposition to this plan that would strip health care from millions, force children, veterans, and seniors to go hungry, and raise costs for working families — all to fund trillions in tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
When the House passed this disastrous bill and sent it to the Senate, I held out a sliver of hope that a few Republican Senators might do right by their constituents and strip out some of its most harmful provisions. But this week, by the narrowest of margins, the Senate approved a plan even more harmful than the one passed by the House — a shameful betrayal of the American people. My Republican colleagues, beholden as ever to Donald Trump and their billionaire donors, practically tripped over themselves to rubber-stamp the new legislation and sent it to the President’s desk — condemning millions of their own constituents to a future filled with hardship, uncertainty, and suffering.
Of all the damage this bill inflicts on our communities, its assault on health care may be the most devastating. Independent, non-partisan experts estimate that the GOP’s drastic cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act will strip health insurance from more than 17 million Americans, with over 20 million more seeing their premiums nearly double. Millions of people will be buried in medical debt and forced to turn to emergency rooms for basic care — but even that option may soon vanish for countless Americans.
Even if you don’t rely on Medicaid, your hospital does. And as Republicans slash reimbursement rates for care providers, hundreds of health care facilities — particularly those in rural areas — will be pushed to the brink of collapse. In New York State alone, the Fiscal Policy Institute warns that 70 hospitals are at risk of closure under this bill. That means not only a steep drop in access to care for our communities, but also $14.4 billion in lost economic activity and 63,000 job losses statewide.
As if these numbers weren’t alarming enough, the GOP budget also cuts nearly $200 billion from food assistance programs like SNAP — driving more than 2 million people off the rolls in an average month. This won’t just force children, veterans, and seniors to go hungry — it will also gut demand for homegrown food, costing American farmers an estimated $30 billion in lost revenue.
Republicans have forced this legislation down the throats of their constituents to appease President Trump — a wannabe king — and to hand out unprecedented tax breaks to their wealthiest donors and billionaires. Yet even with all these painful cuts, the numbers still don’t add up. To cover the rest, they plan to blow a $4 trillion hole in the national deficit — abandoning the very principles many of them once claimed to stand for. The so-called GOP “deficit hawks” have instead become “deficit hacks,” letting Donald Trump steer our nation straight over a fiscal cliff.
Republicans know exactly how harmful this budget will be. Just ask some of the Senators who voted for it — like Josh Hawley of Missouri, who loudly vowed to oppose any Medicaid cuts. “You cannot take away health care from working people,” he declared. “And unless this is changed going forward, that is what will happen in coming years. So I’m going to do everything I can to stop that.” Everything, apparently, except voting against a bill that strips coverage from more than 265,000 Missourians. Then there’s Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who cast a decisive vote for the so-called “big, beautiful bill” while lamenting that she “would like to see a better outcome for people in this country.” But empty platitudes won’t protect Alaskans — or tens of millions of other Americans — from the devastating consequences of this bill.
I’ve long said that a budget is more than numbers on a spreadsheet — it’s a statement of our priorities. With this reckless plan, Republicans have shown us their priorities: not standing up for their constituents, but serving Donald Trump and his billionaire friends. I’m horrified by this betrayal — but I remain unwavering in my commitment to the people of our Capital Region. I’m still fighting to secure health care as a human right. I’m still working to make life easier for working families. And I’m still determined to build a brighter future for every American. If we all stay engaged and stand together, we can still make that future a reality.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- Last month, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the availability of funding for the New York Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS) capital grant program.
- This program supports municipalities and nonprofit organizations in building or renovating community centers that promote physical health, mental well-being, and community connections for youth and older adults.
- NY BRICKS will offer grants of up to $15 million to fund design, construction, renovation, and land acquisition for these centers.
- Priority will be given to projects in underserved communities, as well as those offering affordable services like childcare, elder care, and mental health counseling.
- The application period for the program will open on July 14, 2025, and applications must be submitted by August 15, 2025.
- Awards are expected to be announced no earlier than November 1, 2025.
- You can click HERE to view more information about NY BRICKS, or click HERE to view a recording of a recent informational webinar about the program.
