Senate Bill Proposes Extreme Cuts to Medicaid and Clean Air Programs

Today, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released their portion of the draft reconciliation bill, which includes billions of dollars in healthcare cuts and billions of dollars in cuts to critical programs to keep the air clean. In response to this bill, the American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“Families across the U.S. rely on Congress to make decisions that are good for the country. But by making even deeper cuts than the House reconciliation bill, this Senate bill betrays those families. The proposed Senate bill would eliminate health coverage for millions of people, cut programs that keep our air clean, and devastate our healthcare system. The American Lung Association, representing millions of people with asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and everyone with lungs, strongly opposes this bill.

“To cut Medicaid costs, the proposed bill includes work reporting requirements, which have been proven to kick hardworking people off of their healthcare coverage and could cost states millions of dollars. Make no mistake: work reporting requirements are cuts. The fact is that 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, place an enormous burden on state budgets, force clinics and rural hospitals to close, increase uncompensated care and force families to pay more for healthcare coverage. 

“The legislation would also make our air dirtier. 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. It would even cut efforts to clean up unhealthy air inside of schools. 

“This bill will impact everyone in the U.S. and must be rejected by the Senate. We urge everyone to reach out to their Senators to press them to reject cuts to Medicaid, healthcare and clean air programs. The American Lung Association calls on the Senate to vote ‘no’ on this dangerous bill that would hurt families, weaken our healthcare system and make America sicker.”