After All-Night Sessions, 3 Committees Advance Largest Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in American History to Fund Tax Giveaways for the Ultra-Wealthy; Bill Slated to Move Toward Full House Vote

A trio of key committees in the U.S. House of Representatives passed the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in American history yesterday while advancing a $4.9 trillion tax giveaway that will overwhelmingly benefit the ultra-wealthy. The reconciliation bill, which now moves toward a possible full U.S. House vote next week, would mean that hundreds of thousands of people in Virginia who rely on these programs would be at risk of their food and health care being taken away.

After an all-night session, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed more than $715 billion in cuts to health care programs on Wednesday, with the vast majority of that coming from Medicaid, which would be the largest Medicaid cut in American history. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that, under this proposal, 10.3 million people across the country would be kicked off their Medicaid coverage, with 7.6 million going uninsured entirely. In Virginia, 147,000 working people would see new out-of-pocket costs in the form of up to $35 co-pays, while 182,000 Virginians would be kicked off their health care due to the implementation of misguided and burdensome paperwork requirements.

Meanwhile, late last night, the House Agriculture Committee passed a plan to cut nearly $300 billion in food assistance through SNAP. The committee’s proposal would, for the first time, mandate states to pay a portion of SNAP benefits, meaning Virginia would either face a $350 million hole in the budget or be forced to cut food access for Virginia families.

These cuts were passed in order to pass President Trump’s tax plan in the Ways and Means committee, which also passed yesterday morning, and will disproportionately benefit the ultra-wealthy. An analysis of the House GOP tax plan shows that, by 2029, people with incomes over $1 million a year would see an average tax cut of $79,620, while households in the lowest 20% of incomes would see an average tax increase of $100.

Next, the House reconciliation bill, including these provisions, will move through additional committees en route to a planned full House vote next week. The Commonwealth Institute today called on Virginia’s delegation to oppose these devastating cuts to health care and food access for Virginia families.

“Thank you to the members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation, including U.S. Reps. Don Beyer (VA-8) on the Ways and Means Committee, Jennifer McClellan (VA-4) on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Eugene Vindman (VA-7) on the Agriculture Committee who each stood up to vote no on these deeply harmful provisions,” said President and CEO of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis Ashley C. Kenneth. “These rushed, draconian cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will take away health care coverage and food access from hundreds of thousands of people in Virginia, cut off access to doctors and services for whole communities by jeopardizing hospitals, and raise costs for people in every corner of the commonwealth – all to put even more money in the pockets of the ultra-wealthy. As the bill moves toward a full House vote, we call on all Virginia members of Congress to oppose this deeply damaging bill.”

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About The Commonwealth Institute 

The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis advances racial and economic justice in Virginia by advocating for public policies that are designed in partnership with people most impacted, and shaped by credible, accessible fiscal and policy research.

Visit www.thecommonwealthinstitute.org for more information.