Proposed Bill Would Cut Hundreds of Billions of Dollars to Medicaid, Programs to Clean Our Air

In response to the release of the draft reconciliation bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes at least $715 billion in healthcare cuts and billions of dollars in cuts to critical programs to keep the air clean, American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“The House of Representatives’ bill would terminate health coverage for millions of people and make the air more polluted. It includes devastating cuts that would take away healthcare coverage for children with asthma, people going through cancer treatment and millions of other people in the United States who rely on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. If passed, this bill would strip healthcare from more than 13 million people and destabilize the healthcare system.

“The proposed bill includes work reporting requirements. Make no mistake: work reporting requirements are cuts and will result in people losing coverage. In fact, 92% of adults under 65 with Medicaid coverage already work full or part-time or are caregivers, students, or unable to work due to illness or disability. The bill would also cut critical parts of the Affordable Care Act, which would force families to pay more for healthcare coverage. 

“The ripple effects of this legislation would be felt across the nation: clinics and rural hospitals could close; people who currently get their healthcare through their employer and lose their job would be locked out of getting Medicaid and lose their safety net; and healthcare would cost more for everyone.

“The legislation also prioritizes polluters over people’s health. It would repeal programs that reduce air pollution – including from cancer-causing diesel trucks and port equipment. It would fast-track the buildout of more fossil fuel energy and severely limit communities’ ability to oppose it. It would gut protections against methane pollution from the oil and gas industry. It would make efficient appliances and cleaner vehicles more expensive, limiting the choice and affordability for families of healthier options. In addition, it seeks to repeal rules to reduce pollution from vehicles that harm kids’ health – which Congress isn’t actually allowed to do with this type of bill. 

“This legislation must be rejected. Everyone in the U.S. should be concerned about how this legislation will harm their health. We urge everyone to reach out to their members of Congress to press them to reject cuts to Medicaid, healthcare and clean air programs. The American Lung Association calls on members of Congress to vote ‘no’ on this dangerous bill that would hurt families, weaken our healthcare system and make America sicker.”