Republican Budget Resolution Cuts Medicaid by Nearly $1 Trillion, Paves Way for Massive Tax Giveaways to Billionaires Like Elon Musk

“Tell me how it is efficient to make people across this country sicker, hungrier, poorer, more vulnerable. Tell me how it is efficient to buy more toy rockets for Donald Trump’s billionaire friends while parents can’t afford groceries.”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, in an impassioned speech on the House floor, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) slammed Republicans’ cruel and callous budget resolution that would slash Medicaid and other critical government services to pay for trillions of dollars in tax giveaways for Donald Trump’s billionaire donors. The Congresswoman’s remarks came during debate on the budget resolution and ahead of the House’s vote on it this evening.

Under the Republican budget plan, nearly $1 trillion would be slashed from Medicaid, and in the Massachusetts 7^th Congressional District:

• The 233,063 people on Medicaid are at risk of losing their health care, including 100,199 children under the age of 19 and 31,000 seniors over 65.
• The 49,000 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act would see their average premium go up by $1,400 per year — a 61% increase.
  • A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 would see their health insurance costs increase by $10,109 per year — a 140% increase in premiums.
• The 187,000 people who count on SNAP to put food on the table would see their SNAP benefits threatened.

Across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, over 230,000 people are estimated to lose healthcare coverage under MassHealth, which administers Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the Commonwealth.

A full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks, as delivered, is available below and the full video is available here.

Transcript: In Impassioned Speech, Pressley Rails Against Cruel GOP Budget Resolution That Slashes Medicaid
U.S. House of Representatives
February 25, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District.

As the House prepares to vote on a truly horrifying Republican budget resolution, one void of empathy or common sense, I’m thinking of and centering the people in my district who stand to be harmed the most.

Families in Mattapan who receive their healthcare through MassHealth – the Medicaid program for Massachusetts.

Mothers in Chelsea who rely on SNAP to feed their babies.

Disabled veterans in Randolph who receive life-saving care and benefits through the VA.

Families in Roxbury who rely on Head Start for childcare. 

This Republican majority said they’d spend the next two years cutting costs for the middle class – but the only thing they’re cutting is trillions of dollars from life-saving programs our communities depend on to make ends meet.

Mr. Speaker, this has never been about efficiency.

Tell me how it is efficient to make people across this country sicker, hungrier, poorer, more vulnerable.

Tell me how it is efficient to buy more toy rockets for Donald Trump’s billionaire friends while parents can’t afford groceries.

The cruelty is the point.

What a callous shame and a sham. 

I urge my colleagues stand with the people, protect families, and reject this shameful budget resolution.

In the words of a righteous faith leader whose place of worship Donald Trump recently attended, “Have mercy.”

Thank you, I yield.

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