Public Policy: Reconciliation Bill
This week, the United States Senate voted in favor of the reconciliation bill, which proposes $1.3 billion in cuts to federal funding, largely impacting Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Now, it’s time to tell your Congressperson in the House of Representatives to Vote ‘NO’ on the Reconciliation/Big Beautiful Bill Act. Soon, the House of representatives will vote on the bill.
As a constituent, your voice matters and your input is invaluable. Together, we can protect federal funding to these critical programs.
Recent polling shows widespread opposition to cutting Medicaid along with other basic needs programs, with 4 out of 5 registered voters, including nearly 60% of Republicans, 88% of Independents, and 92% of Democrats, opposing cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. And both Democratic and Republican United States Senators have spoken out against the harm this bill will cause. Listen to Sen. Thom Tillis’s speech yesterday (R-NC) against this bill.
We strongly urge you to contact you Senators and urge them to vote NO on this bill. Your input is invaluable to them as they make decisions on this bill.
MAKE A PHONE CALL
Call the U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard: Call 202-225-7000 and ask for your local Representative.
SCRIPT
My name is _________________, and I am a constituent.
YWCA (insert name) provides vital programs and services to women and families in our state.
As the (insert your title) at the YWCA, I am extremely concerned about the impact the reconciliation bill will have on our clients and entire state.
The bill cuts trillions of dollars in Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-programs that are essential sources of support for our clients and other vulnerable individuals in our state.
I am asking the Representative to please vote no on this harmful legislation and to oppose all attempts to enact harmful programmatic changes, including eligibility changes, to programs that help YWCAs clients and others in our state.
Thank you.
WRITE AN EMAIL
Locate Your Representative: CLICK HERE, to find your representative’s name to access their email address.
SCRIPT
Dear xx,
YWCA [insert name] serves women, girls, and families in [your state], and we are reaching out to express our concerns regarding the Senate Reconciliation bill. We strongly urge the Senator to Vote no on this bill.
We are very concerned that the cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will negatively impact our clients-your constituents as well as our state more broadly. As a direct service provider, we know that vital entitlement programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) help our state's men, women, and children, including YWCA clients, veteran’s, elderly individuals, and adults and children with disabilities. A cut of more than a trillion dollars to Medicaid and SNAP will have devastating consequences for them and our state.
I have attached the letter the YWCA USA has sent in opposition to this bill to this email in case you didn’t get a chance to review it. We join with YWCA USA asking the Representative to please vote no on this bill and oppose all attempts to cut, cap, freeze, or enact harmful programmatic changes, including eligibility changes, to programs that help YWCAs, our clients, and others in our state.
Please contact [insert name, title, at contact information] at our YWVCA if you have any questions, want additional information, or have thoughts on how we can partner with you to improve the lives of your constituents.
Sincerely,
Additional Information:
This bill proposes harmful cuts and changes to Medicaid and SNAP programs that help YWCA clients, domestic violence survivors, and immigrants. It will result in additional burdens being placed on YWCAs and states nationwide. For example,
The bill shifts SNAP costs to states, potentially jeopardizing SNAP benefits and eligibility, as well as state funding that supports YWCAs. Under this provision, states will have to cut the SNAP program, restrict program eligibility, limit SNAP benefit amounts, or shift funding in state budgets from YWCA programs such as childcare and services, to cover the new state SNAP costs.
The bill proposes cuts to Medicaid and the SNAP, as well as harmful programmatic changes to these programs. For example, the bill expands SNAP work requirements to parents of children and single adults up to age 64. YWCA clients including those who are escaping domestic violence, would be forced to meet new work requirements. Individuals and families who are unable to meet the new work requirements, will be forced to scramble to meet their nutritional and hunger needs who no longer have access to this program.
The bill limits the healthcare that domestic violence survivors and trafficking victims who are immigrants can receive. Per the Coalition on Human Needs, “the Senate budget proposal bars lawfully present refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking and domestic violence, and others from receiving Medicaid along with Medicare, ACA marketplace coverage, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), breaking with guidelines in place since 1996. Current policy limits eligibility for Medicaid to “qualified immigrants”
Resources
Washington Post: Senate GOP Tax Bill Contains the LargestCut to US Safety-Net in Decades
Coalition onHuman Needs: Letter to Senators in Opposition toReconciliation Bill
Center on Budget PolicyPriorities: Bythe Numbers: Senate Republican Reconciliation Bill Takes Food Assistance AwayFrom Millions of People
Futures Without Violence: Medicaid us Essential for Survivors of Family Violence