Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Contact: Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov
Austin, Texas—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) honored 13 Austin students whom he nominated for our nation’s military service academies. In a highly competitive selection process, these students have been admitted to the U.S. Military, Air Force, and Naval Academies.
The students will receive a tuition-free education, which includes room and board, textbooks, and uniforms, as well as a guaranteed military job after graduation. A fully funded, four-year education at a military service academy is valued at upwards of $450,000.
“This is by far my largest number of nominees accepted for academy admission ever. It shows that Austin is home to many talented and determined students who have already demonstrated success in their studies and extracurricular activities. They are ready to serve our country and obtain the education and experience needed to become our next generation of leaders,” said Rep. Doggett. “Every year, I look forward to making these nominations to help a select group of young Austinites achieve their dreams. Young people, usually current high school juniors, wishing to be considered for our next year-end round of nominations should contact my office.”
The students and their parents were honored in a special ceremony in the historic LBJ Suite of the JJ Pickle Federal Building—President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Austin office, where he met with military and civilian leaders during his presidency.
Rep. Doggett’s nominees attending the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY:
Tyler Letcher, a senior at Westlake High School
Mary Teal, a senior at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School
Owen Baggish, a 2022 graduate of Westlake High School
Rep. Doggett’s nominees attending the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO:
William Kugler, a senior at Westlake High School
Paxton Seghi, an Air Force soccer recruit and senior at Westwood High School
Maddox Brown, a 2024 graduate of Bowie High School and a NASA High School Aerospace Scholar
Benjamin Brophy, an Air Force soccer recruit and senior at St. Michael’s Catholic Prep School
Alexander Agrawal, a senior at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
Arun Gandhi, a senior at Bowie High School
Ryan Gulandri, a senior at Bowie High School
Rep. Doggett’s nominees attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD:
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Congressional Republicans’ current plan sets them up to slash hundreds of billions from Medicaid and CHIP; Lawmakers cite bipartisan support for cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare Advantage
Contact: Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C. – As Congress considers reconciliation legislation, Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee led their colleagues in writing to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging them to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare Advantage (MA) instead of forging ahead with cuts to Medicaid.
“As Congress considers reconciliation legislation, we urge you to reject cuts to Medicaid, which are deeply unpopular and will rip away health care from millions of Americans,” wrote the lawmakers. “Where there is widespread agreement is the need to address waste, fraud, and abuse by private, for-profit insurance companies. We write to urge you to crack down on the growing threat to the Medicare program known as ‘upcoding.’”
Upcoding is the practice by which private insurers in Medicare Advantage exaggerate the medical diagnoses of their enrollees to secure higher payments from the federal government. This results in wasteful spending in Medicare, overcharging seniors and taxpayers while adding tens of billions in costs to the federal government. Analysis from the non-partisan Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) found that upcoding is expected to increase Medicare payments to private health insurance companies by an estimated 10 percent, or $40 billion, in 2025.
This waste, fraud, and abuse has been called out by both Democrats and Republicans. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz even noted that tackling this fraud “is relatively enjoyable to go after, because … we have bipartisan support.” Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has launched an inquiry into UnitedHealth’s billing practices in Medicare Advantage, and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) supports the No UPCODE Act, which would ban some of the most aggressive forms of upcoding by private insurers in the program.
“The Wall Street Journal, MedPAC, Administrator Oz, and Congressional Republicans all seem to agree: wasteful spending in MA, driven by abusive upcoding practices, are a ‘more rational’ route to securing health care savings that will benefit the Medicare program and taxpayers,” continued the lawmakers. “Your directive to cut federal health care spending should come from reducing waste, fraud, and abuse like upcoding by for-profit insurance companies, not by cutting health care benefits for American families who rely on Medicaid to make ends meet.”
Nevertheless, Congressional Republicans are forging ahead with plans to slash hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – which will put health and livelihoods at risk for the nearly 80 million Americans, including 37 million children, eight million people with disabilities, and seven million seniors covered by these programs
“If there is no course correction that protects Medicaid, tens of millions of Americans will be kicked off their health care,” wrote the lawmakers. “We urge you instead to listen to Administrator Oz and tackle real fraud, waste, and abuse by private, for-profit health insurers in MA.”
The letters were also signed by Representatives Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Al Green (D-Texas), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Homes Norton (D-D.C.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Maxwell Frost (D-Florida), Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), as well as Senators Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
The letters have been endorsed by the Center for American Progress, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Families USA, LeadingAge, P Street Project, Protect Our Care, and Public Citizen.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement celebrating a ruling by Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ordering the release of Beyer’s constituent, Georgetown postdoctoral fellow Dr. Badar Khan Suri, from detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
“This ruling is a taste of justice for Dr. Badar Khan Suri at last, hopefully the first of many. The administration must comply with this ruling with all possible haste. I am grateful that thanks to Judge Giles’ ruling, Dr. Khan Suri will be returned to be with his family as his case goes forward. His wife and children deserve nothing less, just as Dr. Khan Suri did not deserve to be taken from them and held in a distant detention center for two months.
“The Trump Administration punished Dr. Khan Suri for rights protected by the First Amendment, denied him due process, then whisked him out of Virginia and into Texas as quickly as it could in search of a more favorable judicial environment to further trample his rights and the Constitution. As the case progressed, the administration failed to offer any evidence of wrongdoing by Dr. Khan Suri, and failed to offer even basic legal justification for its actions. The administration’s claims were rife with dishonesty, and Judge Giles was right to reject them, as she said, to end the chilling impact of this and other related cases on free speech across the country.
“Dr. Khan Suri was targeted because the Trump Administration wanted to instill fear on American campuses by responding with unnecessarily and illegally draconian force to students and scholars who expressed views they dislike. The administration’s treatment of Dr. Badar Khan Suri and the growing list of others like him has been authoritarian and is a gross betrayal of American values. This persecution of dissent must end.”
Judge Giles issued an order today requiring ICE to release Dr. Khan Suri and ensure his return to Virginia as his case continues to move through the legal system. In her ruling, she denied that Khan Suri is a flight risk, and did not require bond for his release. Judge Giles made clear that her ruling was motivated by protection of the First Amendment and the right to due process, and noted that her ruling is in the public interest, to end the administration’s chilling impact on free speech across the country. She also noted that the administration has not provided documents or evidence to support its claims about Dr. Khan Suri, which includes failure to provide Secretary of State Rubio’s initial determination that Dr. Khan Suri poses a threat to American foreign policy.
Dr. Badar Khan Suri is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University who lives in Arlington, Virginia. He was in the country legally on a visa when he was detained without charges on orders from the Trump Administration in March by masked agents outside his home in Rosslyn, and moved to a series of prisons and detention centers, ultimately ending in Texas. He is still being held there today, over 1,300 miles away from his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, and three young children. According to Khan Suri’s counsel, “His son spent days crying uncontrollably following his father’s disappearance, and has now stopped speaking.” Dr. Khan Suri has never been charged with a crime and the government has never produced evidence that he did anything wrong.
Beyer met with Dr. Khan Suri’s counsel last month and attended his previous hearing before Judge Giles, which preceded this ruling. Beyer was represented by staff in the audience at today’s hearing. Beyer also previously wrote to the Acting Director of ICE seeking reevaluation of Dr. Khan Suri’s status, including consideration of his eligibility for release and alteration of his “high-risk” custody status.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)
WASHINGTON –Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) introduced the Telehealth Network and Telehealth Resource Centers Grant Program Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan bill would provide investment in rural healthcare by reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs through Fiscal Year 2030.
“In the Central Valley and rural communities across the country, telehealth isn’t just a convenience—it’s a lifeline,”said Congressman Valadao.“With too few doctors, long wait times, and clinics often hours away, families are still struggling to get the care they need. This bipartisan bill gives Valley families the flexibility and tools required to better connect with providers, and I’m proud to join Congressman Gray in strengthening rural healthcare for the long haul.”
“In rural areas like the Central Valley, access to telehealth may be the only way folks can see a medical provider,”said Congressman Gray.“While our community experiences one of the worst physician shortages in the country, we need to make it easier to get care—not harder. This bipartisan, commonsense bill to reauthorize telehealth network and resource grants will allow families to access care no matter where they live.”
Background:
Originally enacted in 1944, the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) provides the foundation for the nation’s public health programs and workforce. Over the years, it has been a critical tool in addressing America’s evolving health care needs—particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to quality care remains a challenge.
Through key provisions supporting community health centers, workforce development programs, and telehealth expansion, the PHSA has helped bring vital services to millions of Americans living in rural areas. Reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource grant programs ensures continued investment in initiatives that recruit and retain health professionals in rural communities, strengthens rural hospitals and clinics, and closes the geographic gaps in receiving quality care.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a report released by theAnti-Defamation League (ADL)identifying him as the most targeted Member of the House of Representatives for antisemitic abuse, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) issued the following statement:
“The findings in the ADL’s report are disturbing but not surprising. Antisemitism is on the rise, and it’s hitting closer to home than ever. When hate is left unchecked online, it doesn’t stay online—it seeps into our communities, our institutions, and even our government. So unfortunately, it’s no surprise that this uptick in online hate coincides with the rise in offline antisemitism – which has reached record-breaking levels since Hamas’s massacre of 1,200 innocent Israelis, Americans, and others on October 7th, 2023.
This wave of hate has continued to impact constituents in and near my district: two Jewish men were shot in an attempted murder while leaving religious services in Pico-Robertson[1]; a Jewish couple was assaulted outside of their synagogue in Beverly Hills[2]; the infamous antisemitic riot outside of the Adas Torah synagogue on Pico Boulevard, wherein an anti-Israel mob tried to prevent worshippers from entering the synagogue and assaulted a number of Jewish community members.[3]And just outside my district in Thousand Oaks, a 69 year old Jewish man, Paul Kessler, was brutally assaulted and killed by a anti-Israel protester.
I will not be intimidated. I will not be silenced. I’ve spent my career standing up to extremism and antisemitism, and defending the right of all marginalized groups – including American Jews – to live in peace. That commitment only deepens in the face of these attacks.”
In a report that was released on May 8,Anti-Defamation Leagueresearchers said they collected and analyzed antisemitic comments directed at 30 Jewish members of Congress with Facebook accounts.
The report concluded that among these 30 Jewish members of Congress, the most frequently targeted Senators were Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), while Congressman Brad Sherman stood as the most frequently targeted in the House of Representatives.
[1]U.S. DOJ: Former California Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Attempting to Murder Two Jewish Men Leaving Los Angeles Synagogues Last Year https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/former-california-man-sentenced-35-years-prison-attempting-murder-two-jewish-men-leaving-los
[2]‘Despicable act of hate’: Suspect arrested after antisemitic assault in Beverly Hills
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)
On Wednesday, Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-01), joined by Reps. Davis (NC-01), Golden (ME-02), and Goldman (TX-12), introduced a resolution reaffirming the United States’ steadfast commitment to Israel and calling for expanded U.S.-Israel defense cooperation in the face of evolving global threats.
The resolution emphasizes the deep strategic alliance between the two nations, citing shared democratic values, regional stability priorities, and extensive military collaboration—including joint work on the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense systems.
“Our partnership with Israel is rooted in trust, strength, and shared national security interests,”said Rep. Jack Bergman. “As threats grow more complex—ranging from cyberattacks to terrorism and state-sponsored aggression—we must double down on defense innovation and intelligence sharing. This resolution makes clear that Israel’s security is America’s security.”
“In an increasingly dangerous world, the alliance between the United States and Israel has taken on even greater significance. Our partnership, marked by deepening bilateral defense collaboration, counters the threats posed by global extremists,”said Congressman Don Davis.“By working closely, we will only strengthen our national security and reinforce the fundamental principles that unite us—democracy and freedom.”
“When our allies embrace their responsibility to help defend against mutual threats, families are safer in both of our countries,”said Congressman Jared Golden. “Israel has stepped up to the plate to counter the drone and digital tactics favored by our enemies. I fully support the continued coordination of intelligence and defense efforts to protect Americans and Israelis alike from both independent terrorist organizations and state-sponsored aggressors.”
Rep. Craig Goldman stated,“For decades, the United States has stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel, demonstrating our steadfast partnership. I’m proud to join Representatives Bergman, Davis, and Golden in co-sponsoring this resolution to strengthen the U.S.-Israel defense partnership. This measure reaffirms our security cooperation and emphasizes our commitment to expanding defense collaboration between our two nations. The national security of both the United States and Israel depends on a strong and enduring defense alliance.”
The resolution highlights recent advancements in joint defense initiatives such as counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C–UAS) and anti-tunneling technologies, developed through cooperation at the Irregular Warfare Support Directorate. It also calls for prioritizing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity during the renegotiation of the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
If adopted, the resolution would reaffirm congressional support for Israel’s right to self-defense, endorse further investment in bilateral defense initiatives, and ensure Israel retains its qualitative military edge in an increasingly volatile region.
Rep. Bergman concluded,“This resolution reinforces a message our adversaries must hear loud and clear: the United States stands firmly with Israel—today, tomorrow, and in the future.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
WASHINGTON, DC – During today’s House Energy and Commerce Committee markup on the Republican reconciliation legislation, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) spoke in support of an amendment to prevent the bill from accelerating the closure of community hospitals and women’s health clinics, which will worsen the maternal mortality crisis in the United States. The amendment introduced by Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) would reverse the GOP cuts to Planned Parenthood and other health care organizations that provide lifesaving women’s health care, despite the existing ban on using taxpayer funds to perform abortion care.
“At a time when maternal health outcomes are worsening across this country, when we’re dead last in maternal mortality among developed nations, this bill doesn’t just turn a blind eye – it pours gasoline on a fire that is already consuming our hospitals, our providers, and our patients,” Congresswoman Trahan said.
CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s remarks during the Committee’s consideration of reconciliation legislation. A transcript is embedded below.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is currently marking up House Republicans’ reconciliation package that, according to the Congressional Budget Office, would cut $715 billion from Medicaid and eliminate health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans. Medicaid is the largest single-payer of maternity care in the United States, covering an estimated 40% of births. One in five women, and nearly half the country’s children, are covered by Medicaid.
The amendment introduced by Congresswoman Fletcher would strike the provision limiting federal Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, which would force clinic closures and force more patients to visit hospitals that will be stretched thin by other Medicaid cuts in the bill. During debate over the amendment, Trahan pointed to the recent closing of the maternal birth center in Leominster as well as the devastation caused by the Steward Health Care crisis that closed two hospitals in Massachusetts, including Nashoba Valley Medical Center in her district.
“Maternal health is life or death, and right now, far too many women are dying because our health care system is failing them. In my district, that failure is not theoretical. We don’t have sprawling hospital systems with billion-dollar reserves. We have community hospitals that barely survived COVID and now face impossible decisions,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “In 2023, the only maternity ward in the western part of my district shut down due to staffing shortages. Last year, two more hospitals closed during the Steward Health Care crisis, including one that served as the primary care provider for thousands of families. These aren’t hypothetical losses. These are real delivery rooms, real emergency rooms – closed for good. Hallways dark. Doors locked. Services gone.”
The amendment was defeated following a vote along party lines, with all Republicans voting against it.
A copy of the amendment can be accessed HERE.
——————————————–
Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Remarks As Delivered
House Energy and Commerce Committee Markup – Hospital Closure & Maternal Health Amendment
May 13, 2025
I move to strike the last word, and I want to thank my colleague from Texas for introducing this important amendment.
Every one of us has heard stories from constituents – mothers, daughters, families – about how hard it is to access the care they need. And yet, this bill crafted behind closed doors by Republicans on this committee will only deepen that crisis.
At a time when maternal health outcomes are worsening across this country, when we’re dead last in maternal mortality among developed nations, this bill doesn’t just turn a blind eye – it pours gasoline on a fire that is already consuming our hospitals, our providers, and our patients.
Cutting Medicaid means cutting off care when women are most vulnerable. Pregnancy is not a luxury. Safe childbirth isn’t a partisan issue. Maternal health is life or death, and right now, far too many women are dying because our health care system is failing them.
In my district, that failure is not theoretical. We don’t have sprawling hospital systems with billion-dollar reserves. We have community hospitals that barely survived COVID and now face impossible decisions.
In 2023, the only maternity ward in the western part of my district shut down due to staffing shortages. Last year, two more hospitals closed during the Steward Health Care crisis, including one that served as the primary care provider for thousands of families. These aren’t hypothetical losses. These are real delivery rooms, real emergency rooms – closed for good. Hallways dark. Doors locked. Services gone.
When a maternity ward shuts down, it sends a chilling message: that a community’s needs aren’t worth the investment. That we’re okay forcing mothers to drive two or three hours just to give birth. That we’ll accept more premature births, more untreated complications, and more babies who never take their first breath.
According to the March of Dimes, 1 in every 25 obstetric units has closed in just the last two years. Over a thousand counties in America are now classified as maternity care deserts, meaning 2.3 million women live in places where there isn’t a single birthing facility – not one obstetrician.
These women are not numbers on a chart. They’re real people. Women who fear bleeding out in labor with the nearest hospital 90 minutes away. Women who skip prenatal care because they can’t afford the gas. Women who bury their babies because help came too late.
And now, Republicans want to gut the very program that keeps these fragile systems afloat just to pay for tax cuts for billionaires like Elon Musk who loves to talk about falling birth rates but refuses to fund the health care that women need to give birth safely?
It doesn’t stop there. This bill targets Planned Parenthood, blocking their health centers from receiving Medicaid dollars in states where abortion is already banned. I want to be clear – these centers aren’t performing abortions. What they’re doing is delivering cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing, and preventive care in places where there’s no other option.
So let’s call this what it is – not a fight over abortion, but a deliberate campaign to dismantle reproductive health care altogether. And it’s happening while maternal mortality is rising and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
Cutting Medicaid, which covers half of all births in this country, will only make that crisis worse. We will lose coverage. We will lose hospitals. And we will lose lives.
If you care about healthy moms and babies, if you care about rural communities surviving, if you care about the basic dignity of giving birth safely in America in 2025, then you cannot support the bill as written.
Give us a meaningful Mother’s Day gift this year. Support this amendment, and do not balance your budget on the backs of mothers.
I yield back.
###
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Today, during the 17th hour of the marathon Energy and Commerce Committee meeting on the Republican tax plan, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) offered an amendment to protect millions of Americans from being kicked off Medicaid. Their legislation would kick 13.7 million people off their healthcare, according to a new analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. In every state that has experimented with so-called “work requirements,” employment was not increased, but tens of thousands of people – many of whom are in fact working – have lost their healthcare. The Republican majority on the committee rejected Rep. Peters’ commonsense amendment to protect sick and uninsured Americans on a party-line vote of 23-28.
Speaking on his amendment, Rep. Peters stated, “I want to talk about what’s at stake today. Medicaid covers more than 72 million Americans. That includes nearly 40 million children, 7 million seniors, and 15 million people with disabilities. In my district alone, Medicaid (or Medi-Cal, as we call it), covers nearly one in five people. Across the San Diego region, that number is almost one in three. Medicaid helps working families who don’t get health insurance through their jobs, and it keeps struggling rural hospitals afloat. Medicaid provides treatment for opioid addiction and mental health services for those who need them the most. And let’s not forget: Medicaid is also the largest provider of long-term care in this country.”
He continued, “Look, I believe that work is valuable. It provides stability, dignity, and a path toward opportunity. I also believe deeply that every American who can work should be encouraged and supported in doing so. But time and again, when states have made these cuts, we have not seen increases in employment. But we have seen people lose health coverage, more red tape for doctors, and worse health outcomes.”
And he concluded, “People who should qualify still lose coverage. My constituents—veterans with post-traumatic stress injury, new mothers recovering from childbirth, or people managing chronic conditions often can’t make it through the reporting process in time. My Republican colleagues will point to the bill text and say people with disabilities are clearly exempted. Tragically, it already takes people who are disabled almost 8 months to receive a formal determination from the Social Security Administration. So, this bill would kick disabled people who have health care today off of their coverage. That’s because many of them are covered by the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which the legislation before us would gut. And even for those who do work — often in low-wage, unstable jobs — these mandates create a penalty for workers. A missed shift, a lost job, or a technical error can trigger a cascade that ends in lost coverage. That’s not promoting work. It’s punishing job loss. When people lose Medicaid, they don’t stop getting sick. They just stop getting preventive care. They end up in the emergency room, often sicker, and often at greater cost to their family and the taxpayers.”
156,100 people in the district rely on Medicaid for health coverage—that’s 20 percent of all district residents.
34,700 children in the district are covered by Medicaid.
17,700 seniors in the district are covered by Medicaid.
64,900 adults in the district have Medicaid coverage through Medicaid expansion—that includes pregnant women who are able to access prenatal care sooner because of Medicaid expansion, parents, caretakers, veterans, people with substance use disorder and mental health treatment needs, and people with chronic conditions and disabilities.
At least five hospitals in the district had negative operating margins in 2022. These hospitals would be especially hard-hit by cuts to Medicaid. For example:
Scripps Mercy Hospital had a negative 25.3 percent operating margin—and nearly 22 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid.
Sharp Coronado Hospital had a negative 3.5 percent operating margin—and over 36 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid.
University of California San Diego Medical Center had a negative 2.4 percent operating margin—and nearly 19 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid.
Those health centers and patients rely on Medicaid—statewide, 69 percent of health center patients rely on Medicaid for coverage.
Health centers will not be able to stay open and provide the same care that they do today, with more uninsured and underinsured patients. They are already operating on thin margins—in 2023, nationally, nearly half of health centers had negative operating margins.
Medicaid cuts put health centers at risk, including:
Family Health Centers of San Diego
Neighborhood Healthcare
North County Health Project
San Diego American Indian Health Centers
St. Vincent De Paul Village
Read Rep. Peters full remarks below:
I want to talk about what’s at stake today. Medicaid covers more than 72 million Americans. That includes nearly 40 million children, 7 million seniors, and 15 million people with disabilities.
In my district alone, Medicaid (or Medi-Cal, as we call it), covers nearly one in five people. Across the San Diego region, that number is almost one in three.
Medicaid helps working families who don’t get health insurance through their jobs, and it keeps struggling rural hospitals afloat.
Medicaid provides treatment for opioid addiction and mental health services for those who need them the most. And let’s not forget: Medicaid is also the largest provider of long-term care in this country.
If you have a loved one who relies on home care or if you have a grandparent in a nursing home, Medicaid is there to make sure they get the care they need.
So, when Republicans propose slashing Medicaid, let’s be clear about what that really means. It means seniors will be kicked out of nursing homes. It means people with disabilities will lose their independence. It means kids will miss critical doctor visits.
We know this because we’ve seen it before.
Let’s look at Arkansas. When the state piloted its Medicaid work requirement, over 18,000 people lost coverage.
Not because they refused to work, but because they struggled to report their hours in a newly created, online-only portal.
The vast majority of these people had jobs. Many more were caring for disabled relatives, recovering from illness, or navigating mental health challenges. The problem is: the work requirement didn’t account for that.
Local doctors and clinics felt the strain almost immediately. Physicians reported longer waits. Patients missed their follow-up appointments. Emergency rooms saw increases in uncompensated care.
It wasn’t just those subject to the mandate who suffered—everyone in the system felt the impact including the elderly, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities.
Similar results followed when Georgia experimented with its own mandate. The evidence is consistent: Republican policies will increase red tape and cut health care coverage for everyone, but they do not increase employment for “able-bodied” people.
Medicaid is the difference between children getting the medication they need or not. It’s the difference between a working mother affording prenatal care or risking her pregnancy.
It’s the difference between a senior being able to stay in their home or being forced into a nursing facility.
Look, I believe that work is valuable. It provides stability, dignity, and a path toward opportunity. I also believe deeply that every American who can work should be encouraged and supported in doing so.
But time and again, when states have made these cuts, we have not seen increases in employment. But we have seen people lose health coverage, more red tape for doctors, and worse health outcomes.
We’ve heard plenty of arguments today that there are exemptions for the elderly or people with disabilities.
The problem is: in practice, these exemptions are often poorly implemented and difficult to navigate, as is the bill before us.
People who should qualify still lose coverage. My constituents—veterans with post-traumatic stress injury, new mothers recovering from childbirth, or people managing chronic conditions often can’t make it through the reporting process in time.
My Republican colleagues will point to the bill text and say people with disabilities are clearly exempted.
Tragically, it already takes people who are disabled almost 8 months to receive a formal determination from the Social Security Administration.
So, this bill would kick disabled people who have health care today off of their coverage.
That’s because many of them are covered by the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which the legislation before us would gut.
And even for those who do work—often in low-wage, unstable jobs—these mandates create a penalty for workers.
A missed shift, a lost job, or a technical error can trigger a cascade that ends in lost coverage. That’s not promoting work. It’s punishing job loss.
When people lose Medicaid, they don’t stop getting sick. They just stop getting preventive care. They end up in the emergency room, often sicker, and often at greater cost to their family and the taxpayers.
The evidence is overwhelming: these policies will drastically cut Medicaid funding and take health care away from more than 13 million Americans.
The short-term spending cuts we may see on our balance sheet will be outweighed by downstream costs—in both dollars and American lives.
We can do better than this, I encourage my colleagues to vote yes on my amendment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — This morning, at the weekly House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson addressed House Democrats engaging in a physical altercation with ICE agents and provided an update on budget reconciliation.
On House Democrats engaging in a physical altercation with ICE officers:
Three Democrat members of Congress got into a physical altercation with our ICE agents outside the Delaney Hall Detention Center in New Jersey. What a spectacle that was, what a horrible display for our children to see. Amid a long list of shameful and embarrassing episodes this year, that altercation, I think it takes the cake. I think it’s a new low for congressional Democrats. Instead of condemning the action, of course, the Democrat leadership in the House sent out a statement of support. My friend Hakeem Jeffries said, “We will never bend the knee.” Bend the knee to what, Hakeem? To ICE?
The reason the Democrats were even at the detention facility is equally concerning. The purpose was they were there demanding to shut down the detention facility. Now look, here’s who’s housed in the detention facility: violent gang members, rapists and murderers. They want to shut it down. We already know the Democrats support open borders. They support MS-13 gang members. They go visit them in jail. They want to allow illegals to vote, so many of them. But this really is, this is a new this a new low.
Republicans want to detain and deport criminal illegal aliens. Democrats want to empty the jails. Could you have a stronger contrast than that right there? We don’t need less detention beds and facilities, we need much more, and that behavior is just unacceptable. We’re grateful to US Attorney Alina Habba in New Jersey, she’s opened an investigation into this matter, and that legal process will play out. We’re having conversations, we had them this morning in the House Republican conference meeting this morning about appropriate action that we need to take here to address that inappropriate behavior, the wildly inappropriate behavior, and we will do that.
On budget reconciliation:
The bill is coming together. As you’ve heard, the last three committees are reporting out today. Everybody in this room gets fixated on a few final details about all this, but I think it’s important to just state one more time what we’re achieving through reconciliation. This will be the one of the most consequential pieces of legislation ever passed by the United States Congress. It is large, it is comprehensive, and it deals with reconciling the budget in a way that will be fiscally responsible. We’re going to slash taxes, including on tips overtime, Social Security for seniors and job creators, restore American energy dominance, secure our border, and deport illegal aliens. We’re going to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, return to peace through strength and reduce spending, all at the same time.
And I put reconciliation on an aggressive timetable. Back in January, I said that we would try to do this as quickly as possible. We’re still on target to hit that Memorial Day deadline, which people balked at when we first said it. The American people are counting on us to get this done and get it done quickly, and we are on target to do it. President Biden left virtually every area of public policy in disrepair, and it is incumbent upon Congress to fix it and pass laws that cannot be easily undone or overwritten. We’re working around the clock to build consensus to get the 218 votes and deliver on President Trump’s America first agenda so the American people can really begin to feel relief.
On House Democrats lying about Medicaid:
As we’re working to get this done, House Democrats are working overtime to deceive the American people about this. We’ve discussed it already this morning, but they’re not talking about what the bill actually does. They’re using talking points that are pretty stale. They’re not afraid to lie about what’s in it, and we’re not afraid to tell the truth about what the Democrats are doing. They’ve already been forced to take down their advertisements because they were filled with falsehoods about what the bill supposedly was going to have in it. You probably saw last week. They’re at it again. They released a CBO report, so called, that claims that our legislation cuts many millions of Americans out of Medicaid. It’s obviously, demonstrably false.
Other outlets have reported on this. They included policies that are not even in the legislation. How could they have done that? Because they released a report before the bill text was issued. And most of the media ran with that, okay? And I’m just going to say this to my friends in the media, on the hill press corps in particular, right? If you allow Democrats to make these intentionally false claims without pushback, then you’re aiding and abetting in the spread of misinformation. I mean, you know, I’m stating the obvious. The job is to get the facts out there. So, we hope you will.