CONGRESSMAN ADAM GRAY STATEMENT ON BUDGET RECONCILIATION VOTE

WASHINGTON, DC – After an overnight vote series, Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced) released the following statement on his vote against the partisan budget reconciliation package. 

“This week, I voted for the Central Valley. Two-thirds of my congressional district relies on Medicaid for health care coverage, and our Valley is experiencing one of the worst physician shortages in the state. This bill would set the stage for disastrous cuts to Medicaid which would leave families without medical coverage and threatened to close the few hospitals that remain open thanks to Medicaid reimbursements.

“Since I got to Washington in January, the majority has pushed ultra-partisan messaging bills and reckless policy through the House. The budget reconciliation bill also made nearly $300 billion in cuts to food assistance programs which over one in five families in my community rely upon to put food on the table. 

“I do not have any neighbors in the Valley—Republican or Democrat—who believe that hungry kids should not get a good lunch at school. Or that hardworking families have too much food. I would not vote to take food assistance away from families and risk federal resources for our farmers.

“The Valley sent me to Washington to work on serious, bipartisan legislation that would address the issues we care about: lowering costs, supporting our farmers and producers, securing water access, and improving our education and health care opportunities. This bill would do none of that. It cuts vital assistance to American families in favor of handouts for special interests and the ultrawealthy. I voted no.”

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