Today, the Senate passed a reconciliation bill that threatens the health, safety, and economic stability of millions of people. The harsh consequences of this bill will impact all of us in some way. LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, low-income communities and hard-working families should not be punished for receiving and having access to taxpayer-funded programs. Lifesaving and life affirming programs are not handouts–they ensure people can meet their most basic needs for a life worth living.
The bill now heads back to the House. If passed, the bill would roll back critical safety net programs and strip away life-saving resources from those who already face systemic barriers to care and stability. Here are the major aspects of the bill we are keeping an eye on.
Key Impacts:
- Cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid
- Puts over 14 million people at risk of losing access to healthcare.
- Jeopardizes care for 21% of transgender individuals and 40% of people living with HIV who rely on Medicaid.
- Threatens the financial viability of LGBTQ+ health centers offering gender-affirming care, STI testing, and mental health services.
- Strips healthcare away from disproportionately impacted LGBTQ+ people, especially those in poverty.
- Slashes food assistance and nutrition benefits, cutting off food assistance for 11.8 million people
- Imposes stricter work requirements and eligibility limits, requiring those who work nontraditional jobs, and / or who may be caregivers to work longer hours.
- Harms individuals who experience higher rates of food insecurity, especially women, youth, people of color, and those with disabilities or caregiving responsibilities.
- Eliminates federal funding for Planned Parenthood
- Targets one of the few providers of inclusive, affirming reproductive and primary care for LGBTQ+ people
- Undermines access to contraception, cancer screenings, and other essential services
- Expands funding for immigration enforcement and detention
- Creates high application fees to file basic applications like asylum, or humanitarian parole which is traditionally $0 cost.
- Restricts federal programs like the Obamacare (Affordable Care) for law-fully present immigrants.
- Increases the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Slashes investments in clean energy while adding taxes on renewable sources
- Removes clean energy tax credits for those who are seeking to purchase an electric vehicle or an energy-efficient power plan with a company.
- Threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs and increases costs for working families
We are witnessing the largest redistributions of resources from working people to the wealthy in modern U.S. history. Congress must use every tool available to protect programs that ensure dignity, health, and safety for all, especially those most at risk.
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