CONGRESSMAN GRAY INTRODUCES BILL TO RESTORE MEDICAID FUNDING FOLLOWING RECONCILIATION CUTS
WASHINGTON, DC – On the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid, Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) introduced legislation to restore funding to critical Medicaid and ACA programs. Cuts to Medicaid and ACA programs included in the partisan reconciliation bill signed by President Trump in July threaten health coverage for 15 million Americans, including nearly 420,000 people in Congressman Gray’s district who rely on Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California).
Among those covered by Medi-Cal in Congressman Gray’s district, 187,476 are children under the age of 19 and 32,000 are seniors over the age of 65. The reconciliation bill’s devastating cuts not only stand to rob Medi-Cal recipients of their coverage but will also lead to closure of rural hospitals and health centers across the Central Valley.
“The majority’s plan to kick Valley families off their health care will not stand,” said Congressman Gray following introduction. “I voted against the reconciliation bill for precisely this reason—hardworking Valley families will not foot the bill for tax cuts for billionaires.
“Our Valley is already experiencing one of the worst physician shortages in the state. The devastating cuts included in the GOP’s hyper-partisan reconciliation bill will make it even more difficult and more expensive to get care close to home. I refuse to sit by and let these cuts rip coverage away from our community.
“Several of my colleagues across the aisle signed letters to House leadership claiming they could not support any measure that would threaten care for working families in their districts. I was disappointed to see so many of them go back on their word. I’m offering them a chance to make this right. I look forward to their support of this bill, which would reverse the cuts that so offended them before they bowed to party leadership in support of the reconciliation package.”
In February, Congressman Gray offered an amendment to the budget framework that would have prevented cuts to Medicaid. The amendment was not made in order in the House Rules Committee and was not adopted. Watch his remarks in support of the amendment here.
Full text of Congressman Gray’s bill to restore Medicaid funding is available here.
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