The DeSaulnier Digest: Standing Up for Americans Amid Republicans' Devastating Cuts
Last week, all but 2 House Republicans voted to pass a budget bill that strips health care and food assistance from millions of Americans in order to give a huge tax cut to millionaires and billionaires. It is hard to overstate how devastating this piece of legislation is for American families.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that with the Medicaid cuts alone nearly 12 million Americans would lose health insurance, leaving American families without access to vital care and raising the long-term cost for taxpayers. In addition to the devastating social services cuts, the Republican budget bill will also raise the cost of monthly student loan payments for working and middle-class families. It includes provisions to strip clean energy investments which will raise electricity bills across the nation, including here in the Bay Area. The Republican bill also explodes the annual budget for ICE from $10 billion to more than $100 billion.
I have been speaking out against this bill since it was first introduced and, in an effort to protect some of the most vulnerable Americans from the worst aspects of this bill, I offered two amendments – one that would have prevented cuts to states’ Medicaid payments unless it could be proven that individuals with disabilities wouldn't lose their health care coverage. The other would have supported low-income graduate students by removing provisions in the bill that eliminate and restrict some student loan programs. Unfortunately, Republicans blocked these provisions.
I was proud to vote against this bill and I am disappointed and angry that my Republican colleagues sold out their constituents to benefit their ultrawealthy donors. As always, I will continue working for CA-10 and American families.
Sincerely,
Mark DeSaulnier
Member of Congress
IN THE COMMUNITY
Congressman DeSaulnier Hosts Town Hall in Antioch
Mark hosted a town hall at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch last week ahead of the final House vote on the Republican budget bill to update constituents on how the bill will affect them and to discuss the situation in the Middle East and lowering costs for American families. If you missed the event, you can watch the recording by clicking here or on the image below.
IN THE NEWS
Mark Shares Opposition to Republican Budget Bill with KTVU
Ahead of his town hall in Antioch, Congressman DeSaulnier spoke with KTVU to share his opposition to the Republican budget bill, his thoughts on the path towards peace in the Middle East, and the latest on an ICE proposal to reopen the federal prison at FCI Dublin as an immigrant detention center. To watch the full KTVU interview, click here or on the image below.
POST OF THE WEEK
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