Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), delivered the following opening remarks at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup of Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and take health care away from millions of Americans.
A video of her remarks is available HERE.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This committee wields immense power when it comes to reconciliation – and in the past we’ve used that power to deliver real results.
We expanded health care through the Affordable Care Act. We rescued the economy during COVID. We lowered drug costs. We made bold investments in clean energy and climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Tangible. Positive. Impact.
But that’s not what we’re doing today.
Today, my Republican colleagues are trying to ram through a bill that would slash hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid.
Let’s be honest about what is happening. No matter what Republicans say, there is no if about it – benefits will be cut.
And I’ve seen this playbook before.
Fifteen years ago – in this room – we debated and passed the Affordable Care Act.
I’ll never forget the passionate advocates who filled this room then – and how Republicans looked them in the eyes and voted against a bill that would provide them lifesaving health care.
Then I watched as Republicans tried again and again to repeal the ACA. And I fought back every time. And I will fight back just as hard today.
Because Republicans can choose to callously ignore the facts – but the impact in each of our communities is real and plain to see.
Cuts to Medicaid mean denying care to the most vulnerable among us: seniors in nursing homes, cancer patients, people with disabilities, and kids.
Kids like Sam.
Sam is 13 years old. He has Down syndrome, autism, and a severe speech disorder. And thanks to Medicaid—Sam is living a safe, supported, and dignified life.
Medicaid covers his in-home supportive services so Sam can live at home with his family—not in an institution. It provides Sam with services to help him build toward greater independence.
Sam’s mom said it best: “Disability rights are human rights. Medicaid is what allows Sam to live a life of dignity, with his rights intact.”
If this bill passes, those rights will be rolled back. The support that helps millions of families like Sam’s will be ripped away.
Today, we will hear Republicans try to defend their bill. They’ll tell us their cruel policies exempt kids like Sam, and pretend that they’re reinvesting in services to support him.
But that’s simply not true.
This bill cuts around $800 billion dollars from our health care safety net. It rips massive holes in states’ budgets – that are near impossible to fill. It sets devious paperwork traps to force families like Sam’s to jump through hoops to keep coverage.
The math is clear. $800 billion dollars gouged out of our health system means $800 billion dollars less care to go around.
With this bill Republicans are choosing to rip away health care and abandon the American people. All to pay for temporary tax cuts for the wealthy, and to keep fueling corporate greed that’s making life harder for everyday Americans.
I’m here to fight for those Americans. And I’ll be here as long as it takes.
I yield back.
