February 15, 2025
Dear Friends,
Throughout my time in public office, I’ve often said that a budget is more than a set of numbers — it is a statement of our values. The decisions we make in Congress about the allocation of federal resources reveal our priorities, our beliefs, and our level of commitment to addressing the needs of the American people.
Earlier this year, I was honored to be chosen to serve on the House Budget Committee. In this role, I’ve pledged not only to pursue bipartisan solutions that strengthen our communities, but also to fight back against Republican efforts to gut the essential programs American families depend on. This week, the House GOP unveiled its new budget proposal — a direct challenge to those principles.
From day one of the 119th Congress, Republicans have signaled their intent to force drastic cuts to vital safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and food assistance for families. This week, the House GOP doubled down on that radical agenda, releasing a plan that would slash these and other programs by up to $2 trillion in order to bankroll trillions more in giveaways and tax breaks for massive corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk. The lion’s share of these cuts are expected to be targeted at health care programs, anti-poverty initiatives, and other essential services Americans rely on — with Medicaid first on the chopping block.
Medicaid provides health care coverage to nearly 80 million Americans, including nearly 7 million children and adults in New York State and more than 120,000 in our Capital Region alone — delivering critical care to Americans at every stage of life. Here in New York, 44% of all children and 64% of all nursing home residents rely on Medicaid for their health insurance, and nearly half of all births in our state are covered by the program. Medicaid is also the single largest payer for behavioral health services nationwide, offering an essential lifeline of mental health care and substance use treatment for millions more Americans in need.
Simply put, the hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts proposed by Republicans would devastate families across the nation. Millions would lose their insurance coverage overnight, cutting them off from the essential care they need to live longer and healthier lives. And with the GOP’s additional proposed cuts to Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding, Capital Region families with ACA coverage would see their annual premiums skyrocket by more than 50%. I did not run for Congress to take health care away from my constituents, and I will fight these cruel, immoral cuts with every fiber of my being.
Republicans are proposing these destructive measures with one simple goal in mind: handing massive tax breaks to their wealthiest supporters. Their plan would extend up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for the rich — money that could and should be used to make life more affordable for hardworking Americans. While working families face devastating cuts to the programs they rely on, the richest 0.1% of Americans would walk away with an average tax cut of more than $300,000 per year. For Republicans, the millions of Americans who would bear the brunt of these cruel, reckless policies are nothing more than collateral damage.
Make no mistake: the GOP’s budget is nothing more than a scheme to steal from working families while lining the pockets of Republican donors.
This week’s GOP budget proposal is not just a shocking betrayal of working families. It is also a clear statement of Republican priorities: propping up corporations and billionaires at the expense of everyday Americans. Their plan isn’t about lowering costs for the American people or even reducing the deficit — it’s about advancing an extreme agenda that puts corporate profits first and working people last. My Democratic colleagues and I will always fight to protect Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and other programs that ensure families can access health care, put food on their tables, and live with dignity. Lives are on the line, and the American people deserve nothing less than leaders who will stand with them every step of the way.
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 and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- As your representative in Congress, I’m committed to hearing your concerns directly and giving you the opportunity to make your voice heard.
- Given recent events in Washington and the ongoing hostile takeover of our federal government, I know many of you have urgent questions.
- That’s why on Wednesday, February 19th at 6:00 PM, I’m hosting a Town Hall meeting to answer your questions and provide an update on what I’m doing in Washington to fight back.
- While tickets to attend the Town Hall in person have been sold out, but the event will also be streamed live on my Facebook page (please note that you do not need a Facebook account to view this event).
- I encourage you to tune in on Wednesday to hear more about how I’m working to safeguard our democracy, protect our values, and preserve the essential services American families rely on.
If you have any questions or need assistance with federal agencies, policies, or services, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
