Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), co-chair of the PFAS Task Force, released the following statement in response to reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to rescind the landmark PFAS drinking water standard implemented last year.
“I see the urgent threat of PFAS firsthand in Michigan, and this is a problem many communities across our country are facing and working hard to rectify. After years of fighting, the EPA issued a final rule to limit the levels of PFAS commonly found in drinking water, an important step to keep forever chemicals out of our homes. Rescinding this standard means more Americans will be poisoned and harmful PFAS contamination will continue to spread. Too many people have already suffered the adverse effects of PFAS exposure, and we must do everything possible to combat this dangerous public health threat.”
The national drinking water standard issued last year by the EPA set legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six PFAS commonly known to occur in drinking water. The EPA estimates this rule will prevent PFAS exposure in drinking water for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.
Dingell has long led the fight against PFAS as the author of the PFAS Action Act, which includes establishing a strong national drinking water standard.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) opened today’s Energy and Commerce Committee Markup on the Republican budget proposal by sharing the story of a Michigan family from Warren whose six-year-old son, George, has Down syndrome, and relies on Medicaid to get the care he needs.
The independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) determined that at least 13.7 million more Americans will go uninsured on Trump and Congressional Republicans’ watch.
New analysis from the nonpartisan CBO found the health provisions in Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans’ bill will cut at least $715 billion and will result in at least 8.6 million more Americans going uninsured because of cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. In additional analysis, CBO determined 5.1 million more Americans will go uninsured as a result of Republicans refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, as well as full implementation of the Marketplace Integrity Rule.
Watch Dingell’s remarks here, and read them below.
“Thank you, M. Chair,
Please meet George, who I met this morning, who is full of energy – and my office somehow survived.
Welcome, George. Here’s the letter I got from his mom:
‘Our son, George, is six and has Down’s Syndrome. We adopted him at 3 weeks old. Losing Medicaid would cripple our family, absolutely destroy us. We’ve been very lucky until now because of Medicaid. It’s been very instrumental for our family’s ability to survive. My husband and I both primarily do gig work, both employed full time, but we don’t have workplace insurance. It’s not super reliable for the kinds of jobs we do, so we have marketplace insurance. It’s a huge fear that we’d lose Medicaid, because it’s necessary for our family’s lives.
‘The disability world, our community, is really worried about cuts to Medicaid. The general narrative right now is one of terror.
‘It’s a death sentence to cut Medicaid. It’s intrinsically and undeniably tied to disability rights and justice in our country. If we’re not serving our most vulnerable children, what are we even doing as a country? You’re leaving families with no options and putting us in an impossible position. It’s so obvious that they don’t care about disabled people or poor people.’
They cared strongly enough to come.
There’s a poll this week that shows 83% of people in Michigan support Medicaid. 2.6 million people get health insurance through Medicaid in Michigan, representing approximately 1 in 4 Michiganders. Medicaid provides coverage for 38% of births in Michigan, 2 in 5 children, 3 in 5 nursing home residents, and 3 in 8 working-age adults with disabilities.
And I want to say to my colleagues, Michigan’s Medicaid program is efficient with per-enrollee costs among the 10 lowest in the country. To all my colleagues who say you’re cutting waste and fraud, Medicaid is 22% more cost-effective than any private insurance plan. We have to protect George, other children, seniors in nursing homes, and people with disabilities.
Please don’t say you’re not going to hurt them, because many things in this bill are a back-door way of doing so.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California
May 08, 2025
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, Ranking Member Jared Huffman led House Natural Resources Committee Democrats to reject House Republicans’ scorched-earth plan in the Committee’s portion of the Republican reconciliation package. Their bill will sell off our lands, waters, and wildlife to fund tax cuts for billionaires and promote their extreme partisan agenda. While House Republicans remained silent at the markup, Huffman, alongside his Democratic colleagues, presented a unified front to protect our communities, the American taxpayer, and our most cherished places.
Ranking Member Huffman addresses Republicans’ betrayal to our environment and the American people
Republicans had the opportunity to support common sense safeguards and improve the legislation, but they instead rejected multiple Democratic amendments, including:
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendments (#20 and #35) protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Boundary Waters.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#247) striking the section creating a “pay-to-play” process for NEPA.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#36) striking out all provisions parallel to Project 2025
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#105) redirecting funds to support international conservation
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#39) preventing offshore oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#102) prohibiting funds from being used to procure seafood originating or processed in countries identified for failure to address illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing, bycatch of marine wildlife, or shark management.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#197) requiring tribal consultation before approving Ambler Road.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#106) blocking the bill from go into effect until the Office of Inspector General submits a report on Elon Musk’s conflict of interest.
A full list of amendments offered by Committee Democrats and blocked by Republicans can be found here
Ranking Member Huffman spent the entire reconciliation markup holding Republicans accountable for their anti-environment agenda, proposing alternative legislative action to improve our public lands, and leading debate to address the issues impacting the American people on the ground. The Republicans, on the other hand, stayed quiet during the reconciliation markup – silently promoting extensions of Project 2025 while doing nothing to help the communities that will be impacted by these reckless policies.
House Republicans are squandering Americans’ money, health, and safety to pad polluters’ pockets. Specifically, this bill:
Instantly boosts big oil and gas company profits by letting them drill and frack at bargain-basement prices while robbing taxpayers blind.
Puts polluters before people by letting the wealthy companies pay for legal immunity for inadequate environmental reviews and slapping Americans with exorbitant fees to protest oil and gas pollution.
Slashes funding for critical and popular public services like NOAA’s coastal restoration and resilience efforts and the National Parks workforce, making it harder forAmericans to protect their communities from natural hazards and visit our nation’s most scenic and inspiring places.
Locks up 4 million acres for unprofitable coal mining – more land than the entire state of Connecticut – taking our energy policy back to the 19th century.
Mandates dirty mining and drilling deals that will create toxic disasters in our nation’s most pristine lands and waters, permanently polluting places like the Boundary Waters and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Crushes clean energy development by jacking up fees for wind and solar while slashing fees for oil and coal.
Wipes out protections for endangered species, including dooming the planet’s most endangered whale to extinction by waiving all sensible safeguards for offshore oil and gas operations.
Sells off public lands to pay for handouts to big oil and tax cuts for billionaires – a surprise, late-night amendment paves the way for a fire sale of public lands.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Today, during the Energy and Commerce Committee’s consideration of the Republican tax plan, which will kick 13.7 million people off their healthcare, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) called out provisions that will make it easier to build polluting coal power plants and cut back on investments in clean energy technologies.
Speaking on the Republican plan, Rep. Peters said, “Last Congress, my Republican colleagues were insistent that we should have an all-of-the-above energy strategy, one that leveraged our natural resources, unleashed American innovation, and cut through bureaucratic red tape. Which is why I am confused that we are considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers, and elevates expensive, outdated, and inefficient sources like coal over cheap American-made energy like solar, wind, and storage.”
He continued, “Why does this bill provide government-backed insurance to coal plants, as the President of the United States single-handedly kills hundreds if not thousands of clean energy jobs across the country by illegally targeting projects and weaponizing the permitting process?”
And he concluded, “We need to face reality; we can’t build anything in America anymore. North America has built about 7 gigawatts of interregional transmission since 2014, with less than half of that in the U.S. In that same time frame, South America has built 22 gigawatts, Europe has built 44 gigawatts, and China has built 260. There is a growing bipartisan coalition for permitting reform. Whether it’s forest management, electric transmission, or building housing, I have reached across the aisle and found success in moving solutions forward. Many of us have voiced our desire to work in a bipartisan way to make America more energy dominant. Now is the time to put our money where our mouth is, and focus on durable, common-sense, and all-of-the-above policies that provide certainty for industry and consumers.”
CA-50 Medicaid Facts:
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:
Last Congress, my Republican colleagues were insistent that we should have an all-of-the-above energy strategy, one that leveraged our natural resources, unleashed American innovation, and cut through bureaucratic red tape.
Which is why I am confused that we are considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers, and elevates expensive, outdated, and inefficient sources like coal over cheap American-made energy like solar, wind, and storage.
Why does this bill expedite permitting for natural gas pipelines – an undeniably important component of our energy system – while completely ignoring transmission lines, without which we would not be able to meet a single kilowatt of energy demand?
Why does this bill provide government-backed insurance to coal plants, as the President of the United States single-handedly kills hundreds, if not thousands, of clean energy jobs across the country by illegally targeting projects and weaponizing the permitting process?
This entire Congress, my Republican colleagues have focused almost exclusively on our need to build baseload power to meet energy demand from data centers, manufacturing, and AI.
However, when they have an opportunity to ensure this baseload power can move from where it’s generated to where it will be used, my Republican colleagues have not only chosen to completely ignore the problem, but are rescinding funds to make it easier to build out the energy infrastructure we need to reduce costs and keep the lights on.
We need to face reality; we can’t build anything in America anymore. North America has built about 7 gigawatts of interregional transmission since 2014, with less than half of that in the U.S. In that same time frame, South America has built 22 gigawatts, Europe has built 44 gigawatts, and China has built 260.
There is a growing bipartisan coalition for permitting reform. Whether it’s forest management, electric transmission, or building housing, I have reached across the aisle and found success in moving solutions forward.
Many of us have voiced our desire to work in a bipartisan way to make America more energy dominant. Now is the time to put our money where our mouth is, and focus on durable, common-sense, and all-of-the-above policies that provide certainty for industry and consumers.
This bill, however, doesn’t come anywhere close to meeting the moment. It isn’t real permitting reform, it doesn’t make us energy dominant, and it only makes things more uncertain for industry, for Americans, and for our future.
Instead of making it easier to build everything, once again we are cutting off our feet in the race to energy resilience. This is the definition of picking winners and losers. And this not the way we will achieve a resilient, energy-abundant future.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe where he emphasized that Democrats will continue pushing back against the reckless Republican scheme to rip healthcare and nutritional assistance away from the American people.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: This morning, the House Energy and Commerce Committee continues its marathon session on proposed Medicaid cuts that will be included in the Republican Party’s sweeping domestic policy bill. Let’s bring in House Minority Leader, Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York. It’s good to have you on sir. Tell us about those cuts. How will Americans be feeling them?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good morning. House Democrats are working hard through the night, both on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, to push back against this GOP Tax Scam, where they are trying to enact the largest Medicaid cut in American history north of $700 billion. And independent observers have confirmed that if the Republicans are successful in passing this GOP Tax Scam, then approximately 14 million people will actually lose their health coverage. Hospitals will close. Nursing homes will shut down. This really is a matter of life and death, and it’s all being done to try to enact massive tax cuts for MAGA billionaire donors like Elon Musk. It’s shameful.
WILLIE GEIST: Leader Jeffries, I’m also looking deep into this bill at proposed cuts to SNAP. That’s food assistance for people across the country—red states, blue states, white, Black, Latino, you name it. $300 billion cuts proposed. What would be the impact of that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Republicans are literally ripping food out of the mouths of children and seniors and veterans. About 20% of households that have veterans living in them right now rely upon SNAP. And in addition to trying to jam this massive cut to healthcare down the throats of the American people, this would be the largest cut to nutritional assistance in the history of the United States of America. And so Republicans are really pushing an extreme agenda at this point in time, directed by Donald Trump. And unfortunately, what we’ve seen is that Republicans in the Congress continue to simply be a rubber stamp as opposed to standing up for the best interests of their constituents.
KATTY KAY: Leader Jeffries, there’s so much going on around the country and so much news coming out of this administration that perhaps this bill is not getting the attention you may feel it deserves. I know there were protesters and some people arrested up on Capitol Hill this week. How can you make Democrats and Republicans who could lose in red states and rural areas as well from this bill—how can you make them more aware and get their voices heard so that changes could be made to the bill?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, these cuts are deeply unpopular across the country, and we’re seeing that in district after district after district. One of the reasons why Republican House leaders have told their members to stop holding town hall meetings is because the American people in blue states, in swing states, in red states have been showing up protesting these proposed cuts to their healthcare, these proposed cuts in nutritional assistance, the efforts to hurt veterans. And so, we just have to keep the pressure on. We’re in a more-is-more environment. We’re doing town hall meetings in our districts and town hall meetings in Republican districts, rallies and speeches and demonstrations and sit-ins. We’ll continue to elevate for the American people the stakes of this battle. And all we need is to find four Republicans who are willing to do the right thing and we could stop this extreme budget from being enacted.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Let me circle back to an issue that we were talking about a month ago. And I’m just curious what Congress is doing, what Congress can do, what Democrats can do about USAID. We have a situation where you have the richest billionaire in the world slashing funding that’s going to ultimately take food out of the mouths of the poorest children on the planet. Now, USAID obviously was a congressionally-mandated agency. You all authorized the spending. You appropriated the spending. And I’m just curious, when does Congress circle back? Because I know there are a lot of Republicans on the Hill that don’t want PEPFAR cut, this Bush program that was inspired by his faith, his evangelical faith, saved over 25 million lives in Africa. We can talk about Catholic charities, Baptist charities. A lot of cuts, both secular and religious charities, helping the poorest across the world. What can Congress do to make sure that funding starts back up?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Joe, as you know, the Constitution gives Congress generally, and the House specifically, the power of the purse. And as the appropriations process begins at the conclusion of this Republican budget reconciliation effort, we’re going to have to strongly push our Republican colleagues to join us to make sure that congressionally-mandated funding, including as it relates to USAID, which helps the best interests of the United States of America. It’s the right thing to do. It’s a moral outrage that these funds have been cut, but it’s also a strategic outrage because what the Trump administration and Elon Musk are doing are undermining the soft power of the United States of America. And if we don’t step in to battle these humanitarian situations that are happening across the world, China will step in and that’s bad for the national security of the United States of America.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: House Minority Leader, Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York, thank you very much for coming on the show this morning. We appreciate it.
WASHINGTON, DC — During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing today, Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) introduced an amendment to extend premium tax credits for women and children — particularly for families about to lose Medicaid coverage under the Republican tax plan. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 4.2 million more people will be uninsured if Republicans allow these credits to expire. Despite the growing health care crisis and skyrocketing costs, Republicans blocked the amendment.
Gomez warned that the Republican tax plan would leave millions of working- and middle-class families without affordable health care: “Let’s remember, this bill does nothing to extend the tax credits that help working families afford health insurance. That means millions of Americans are going to see their premiums skyrocket. In the Chairman’s district, a family of four earning $64,000 a year is going to see their premiums double. That family would have to pay $2,571 more a year. I don’t know where they’re going to find that money—do you, Mr. Chairman?”
He ended with a direct challenge to his Republican colleagues: “What’s it going to be—babies or billionaires? I hope you have a good answer ready when you go home to face your constituents. How about instead of giving massive tax cuts to the rich, join me in passing this amendment to prevent moms and kids from seeing their health care premiums go through the roof.”
WASHINGTON, DC – During today’s House Ways and Means Committee markup, Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) — Chair of the first-ever Congressional Renters Caucus — introduced an amendment that would have delivered direct down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers and incentivized the construction of affordable starter homes. Despite the growing housing affordability crisis, House Republicans blocked the amendment from even receiving a vote.
“This markup should be focused on the needs of the working and middle class–not giving tax breaks to billionaires and fortune 500s paid for by slashing essential programs for workers and families like Medicaid and SNAP,” said Rep. Gomez. “If we can find the money to give tax breaks for massive corporations and billionaires, we should find the money to help average Americans own their home.”
Rep. Gomez sharply criticized the Republican provision to create a so-called “MAGA” savings account for kids: “Republicans have done almost nothing in this massive tax giveaway to actually help Americans buy a home. Creating $1,000 tax-free investment accounts for kids is too little, far too late—especially for Millennials and Gen Z Americans trying to buy a house for their families right now. That’s why I proposed an amendment that would use our tax code to boost homeownership.”
Gomez’s amendment, named the Affordable Homeownership for All (AHOA) Act, would have:
Provided first-time homebuyers with a tax credit of up to $65,000 to cover down payments or closing costs—paid directly at the time they buy their home.
Created a new tax credit for developers to build reasonably sized, affordable starter homes—15% of qualified construction costs, rising to 30% if sold to a first-time homebuyer.
A recent national survey found that 67% of Americans now believe homeownership is an unrealistic goal for younger generations. In LA, the median home price has now surpassed $1 million, putting homeownership even further out of reach for families in Gomez’s district and across the country.
WASHINGTON, DC — During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing today, Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Chair of the Congressional Dads Caucus, introduced an amendment to improve the federal tax credit for businesses that offer paid family and medical leave. The amendment would have made the existing credit — originally passed in the Republican 2017 tax law — work better for working families. But House Republicans blocked it.
“Paid family leave is also about being there when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer or a terminal illness,” said Rep. Gomez. “It’s about being there during the most vulnerable and emotional times in someone’s life. If you want to be pro-family, support this amendment. Show people that you’re thinking about them.”
Rep. Gomez’s amendment would have tripled the credit for small businesses to 75%; increased the credit for larger businesses to 50%; protected workers by requiring job security, continued health benefits, and banning retaliation; and reimbursed states that already run paid leave programs. Today, fewer than 1,000 businesses claim the existing paid leave tax credit—showing how limited it’s been since Republicans first passed it in 2017.
As Dads Caucus Chairman, Rep. Gomez is leading a growing coalition of more than 45 members—including three senators: Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Adam Schiff (D-CA)—in advocating for family-friendly policies that help working families afford their mortgages, rent, child care, and everyday essentials. Learn more about the Dads Caucus here and read the Dads Caucus 118th Congress report here.
For more updates from Congressman Gomez, follow @RepJimmyGomez on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and X.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
WASHINGTON, DC – During today’s House Energy and Commerce Committee markup on reconciliation legislation, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) forcefully opposed proposed House Republicans’ Medicaid cuts by highlighting the devastating impact they would have on people with disabilities. She shared the story of Philip, a Haverhill resident whose independence and daily care depend on Medicaid-funded programs.
“Philip and millions of Americans across our country like him are not fat to be trimmed or waste to be rooted out by politicians in Washington. They’re hardworking Americans trying to live their lives with dignity and make their communities better,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “They’re our constituents. They need you to vote no on this bill. They need you to stand up to Donald Trump and protect Medicaid. Protect the independence of Americans with disabilities. And if you can’t do that – at least have the courage to look at the American people, people like Philip, in the eyes while you take it all away.”
CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s remarks during the Committee’s consideration of reconciliation legislation. A transcript is embedded below.
“For individuals like my son Philip, Medicaid is a lifeline. If funding is cut, it will devastate his life and the lives of many others who depend on these essential services. Medicaid funds the programs that allow Philip to engage in meaningful activities, such as volunteering with Meals on Wheels, helping to train service dogs, or caring for guinea pigs at the Guinea Pig Sanctuary. These programs give him the chance to contribute to society in ways that are vital for his sense of purpose and independence. Without Medicaid, these programs could disappear, and Philip would lose the opportunity to continue making a difference,” said Philip’s mother, Anne. “If Medicaid cuts happen, it won’t just impact Philip. Organizations like The Arc, which offer vital extracurricular activities such as dances, bowling, and other community events, would face significant cuts. These programs are essential for people with disabilities, providing opportunities for social interaction, independence, and personal growth – opportunities they could lose if Medicaid funding is reduced. I urge you not to dismiss this as a non-issue, because no one can guarantee that the disability community will be unaffected by Medicaid cuts. The reality is that these cuts will harm people with disabilities – including my son.”
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. The bill would also implement burdensome paperwork requirements that jeopardize Medicaid coverage for 954,000 Massachusetts residents, nearly half of all MassHealth enrollees in the Commonwealth, and impact another 392,790 individuals who receive coverage thanks to the expansion of the Affordable Care Act.
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Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Remarks As Delivered
House Energy and Commerce Committee Reconciliation Markup
May 13, 2025
It may be easy to sit here in Washington without having to face the people who will feel the impact of a bill that will strip millions of Americans of their health coverage – easy because you don’t have to look them in the eyes or hear their stories.
Let’s open the doors and allow the American people who have stood in line fill the open seats, first and foremost. In the meantime, let me share just one story from my district.
This is a photo of Philip, a resident of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Philip has a disability, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving back – whether volunteering with Meals on Wheels, training service dogs, or caring for animals at a sanctuary. He does all this because of Medicaid.
Medicaid funds the programs that help Philip gain skills, stay engaged, and remain independent. Medicaid isn’t just a health care program – it’s a foundation for independence for people with disabilities like Philip, who want to live their lives with dignity.
In Philip’s case, Medicaid funds Opportunity Works and Community Works, a program that helps folks build job skills, engage in volunteer work, and participate meaningfully in society. These initiatives don’t just keep Philip busy – they give him purpose. They help him grow, contribute to, and connect with his community.
But here’s why I’m telling Philip’s story. This bill – this “big, beautiful bill” as Donald Trump has described it – will slash the federal Medicaid funding that Philip’s program depends on.
And I know my Republican colleagues will say that states should make up for it – but they know that’s not possible. They know that when funds are cut, it’s initiatives like these that are always first on the chopping block.
So what then happens to Philip? He loses a lot more than a routine. He loses access to his community, his sense of contribution, his independence.
Mr. Chairman, Philip and millions of Americans across our country like him are not fat to be trimmed or waste to be rooted out by disingenuous politicians in Washington. They’re hardworking Americans trying to live their lives with dignity and make their communities better. They’re our constituents. They need you to vote no on this bill. They need you to protect Medicaid.
Protect the independence of Americans with disabilities. And if you can’t do that – at least have the courage to look at the American people, people like Philip, in the eyes while you take it all away.
I yield back.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) requested the immediate reversal of the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) decision to revoke federal grant funding for the Lowell Festival Foundation, which organizes the Lowell Folk Festival, and the Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT).
“Together, the Lowell Folk Festival and MRT represent the heart of the arts in the Third District. They showcase local musicians, actors, and artists while providing residents with meaningful opportunities to engage with culture and creativity. Their loss would be a profound setback for our community,” said Congresswoman Trahan.
Last week, the NEA notified local arts and culture organizations across the nation that their federal grants had been withdrawn. The Lowell Folk Foundation and MRT were both impacted, losing $20,000 in federal grant funding each. In her letter sent to Mary Anne Carter, who currently serves as Senior Advisor and was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the vacant Chair position, Trahan pointed to the importance of both the festival and the theatre to local residents, the art community, and the region’s economy.
“The Lowell Folk Festival, organized by the Lowell Festival Foundation, is the longest-running and second largest free folk festival in the nation. For more than 40 years, with the exception of a pause during the COVID- 19 pandemic, it has been a cornerstone of the region’s cultural and economic vitality. Drawing over 150,000 attendees annually from across the country, the festival generates approximately $7 million in local economic activity each year, boosting patronage at restaurants, hotels, and institutions such as the Lowell National Historical Park,” Congresswoman Trahan wrote in the letter.
“The Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) is equally essential to the cultural fabric of the Merrimack Valley. Over the past four decades, MRT has served more than two million residents, producing seven plays annually – many of them original or world premieres. Beyond its artistic achievements, MRT is a champion for arts education, providing thousands of young people with access to theater, whether through discounted matinees or immersive youth productions with professional-level staging,” Congresswoman Trahan continued.
Trahan has long been a supporter of both the festival and MRT. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she secured $416,949 for the Lowell Festival Foundation and $544,686 for MRT to ensure they were able to resume operations. The funding came from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, which was created when Trahan voted to pass the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and supplemented later by the American Rescue Plan Act.
A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.
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