Medicaid is America's Healthcare Safety Net

Floor Speech

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Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, $880 billion, that is how much Medicaid funding is on the chopping block. Medicaid funding provides lifesaving care for millions of Americans.

Medicaid is America's healthcare safety net. Without it, hospitals operating on thin margins will close, medical debt will skyrocket, and kids across the country will suffer.

Americans on Medicaid are your grandparents, your neighbors, your friends, and they are at risk because of these cuts. Virginians, in particular, are vulnerable because even if 1 percent of Federal funding of Medicaid is cut, 600,000 Virginians will lose their Medicaid expansion coverage. This means pregnant women, babies, kids with disabilities, and our most vulnerable neighbors will lose coverage.

These cuts will make us less healthy and they will make us less prosperous and less safe. Even if you are not on Medicaid, emergency rooms will be overwhelmed with uninsured patients and your premiums and healthcare costs will go up, as well.

Mr. Speaker, every American should speak out against these cuts to Medicaid.

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