Barriers to Benefits

The House held a debate titled ‘Barriers to Benefits.’ Representative Madeleine Dean, a Democrat, said the major Republican bill passed the previous year, which she described as costing $3.4 trillion, cut food aid (SNAP) affecting 1.5 million children and cut Medicare for older Americans. She framed the debate around those cuts occurring as the country marked 250 years of American democracy. No other substantive statements are recorded in this sample.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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1 statement

Madeleine Dean, PA

Democrat
“The Republican bill passed last year is harmful and will cost $3.4 trillion. It cut food aid for 1.5 million children and cut Medicare for older Americans.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, this month, as our country celebrated 250 years of American democracy, a moment for profound reflection and unity, instead my Republican colleagues rejoiced in one year of the big, beautiful bill. It was anything but beautiful. SNAP cuts have literally taken food out of the mouths of babes, kicking 1.5 million children from nutrition assistance, leaving families hungry and afraid for tomorrow. Because of this now-law, Medicare cuts have left seniors facing life-threatening barriers to healthcare. Martin Luther King once said: ``Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.’’ When you consider that this bill is on track to cost our Nation $3.4 trillion, it becomes even more nonsensical, destabilizing, and cruel. That seems to be the point. Our Founding Fathers believed--in fact, endangered their very lives-- on the unmovable belief of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for those fortunate to call our Nation home. Ripping healthcare coverage, nutrition, and security from our most vulnerable is no way to honor our guiding principles.

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