Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On House Republicans’ Dangerous Budget Proposal That Would Cut Critical Programs American Families Rely On

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on House Republicans’ dangerous budget proposal to cut critical programs that American families rely on every day. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Yesterday I joined with a few of my colleagues to shine a light on how radical out of touch MAGA Republicans in the House are.

In the House budget, they are putting pen to paper on proposals that would devastate American families and slash the programs that millions of people rely on. These are not abstract issues—they would cause immense pain to countless Americans.

Republicans have been scrambling over the past few days to try to convince the American people that they won’t touch Medicare or social security, even though we literally have years’ worth of statements and speeches that show many of them believe just the opposite.

But another critical question remains unanswered and must be addressed: are Republicans also going to target Medicaid?

Medicaid is one of the most important programs in the country. One in four Americans rely on Medicaid to cover their health care needs.

Let me say that again: one in four Americans rely on Medicaid to cover health care needs.

It’s not just low-income Americans that benefit from Medicaid, as important as helping them is, which of course it is. It’s also middle-class families, who have to pay, for instance, to put their parents in nursing homes. A couple in their mid-forties, who have parents in nursing homes or assisted living, would have a huge burden placed upon them if Medicaid were slashed. These families work hard. Cutting Medicaid would put a huge economic burden on them as they struggle and work to stay in the middle-class.

And Medicaid helps others too: people with disabilities, pregnant women, children, and so many more.

Let me say again: Medicaid is absolutely a middle class issue, in addition to helping low income Americans. We on our side want to help both.

Are Republicans going to strip away coverage for one in four Americans? We really don’t know, because Republicans won’t show us their plan!

Americans are right to be worried about their Medicaid benefits, because these MAGA proposals are coming right at them, at their expense.

We must work to protect and strengthen programs like Medicaid, not put them on the chopping block.

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