1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

Congress must protect Medicaid funding and reject proposed cuts that would strip health coverage from millions of vulnerable Americans. The program covers 1 in 5 people in the United States, including low-income children, seniors, and those with disabilities. Slashing $880 billion from Medicaid, as outlined in the House budget plan, would force states into difficult decisions - raising taxes, cutting other vital services, or restricting Medicaid enrollment, reducing payments to providers, and limiting covered benefits. This would undermine access to essential care for society's most marginalized populations. While curbing fraud is a reasonable goal, the majority of Medicaid recipients are already working or face legitimate barriers to employment like disabilities or caretaking duties. Introducing stringent work requirements, as proposed by some Republicans, has already caused thousands to lose coverage in states like Arkansas. Cutting Medicaid to fund tax breaks for the wealthy is an unconscionable tradeoff that betrays our nation's values of compassion and shared sacrifice. Instead of dismantling this lifeline, Congress should work to strengthen and expand Medicaid so all Americans can access quality, affordable healthcare. Slashing the program to pay for tax cuts is wrong and will only increase human suffering and costs down the line. I urge you to reject these destructive cuts and preserve this vital safety net program.