1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

If Congress cuts Medicaid as currently proposed, some 330 rural hospitals are expected to close as a direct result, including 5 rural hospitals in North Carolina. Do not let this happen. Over 60% of nursing home costs are paid by Medicaid. Do you want go see old sick people kicked out of nursing homes? 40% of births in the US and 20+% of children’s health care is paid for by Medicaid. Surely you don’t want the US birth rate to plunge even further or have women without funds give birth in their homes? You do want the children of North Carolina and the US to have medical care, to I’m sure. As your constituent, I am urging you to reject the cuts to Medicaid (and SNAP!- can we please at least feed people in this rich country?! Grocery stores in poor communities will close if these SNAP cuts happen) in the budget reconciliation bill. These cuts will cause devastating harm to communities. New research shows that cuts to Medicaid along with SNAP will reduce jobs by 1.2 million nationwide, equivalent to about a 0.8% increase in the unemployment rate. With 16 million people expected to lose their health insurance nationwide, as well as nursing home staffing cut back, it’s estimated that these cuts will cause more than 51,000 people to die each year—you must prevent this shocking outcome. The cuts on the table to SNAP are also horrific, and are the largest cuts to basic food assistance programs in history. Ultimately, the Senate bill will make it tougher for families that participate in SNAP in our community to put food on the table at a time when many families are struggling with high costs of food and other basic needs. I am concerned about shifting SNAP costs to states and how this could strain state budgets. Following the Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling, I hope you will reject any modified cost sharing provision given what is at stake for SNAP recipients and our community as a whole. States will deny SNAP benefits and/or cut other needed programs, leaving vulnerable members of our communities to suffer. Deep SNAP cuts will have a ripple effect across services and would also harm workers and retailers in local communities like mine. Our country doesn’t benefit when we take from the most vulnerable—shockingly, even sacrificing thousands of lives—to give to the wealthy in the form of tax handouts. It is worth noting that this package will dramatically increase federal deficits despite horrid cuts to basic needs because of massive tax breaks for the wealthy. There is a moral cost of abandoning the most vulnerable—people with disabilities (including veterans), children, and seniors—and turning our backs on them contradicts our values. Compassion and care for those in need must remain a core part of who we are. Please prioritize the health and wellness of Americans and vote NO on this bill.