McClellan Statement on House Passage of the Republican Budget

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 1:

“Today House Republicans voted to pass One Big Ugly Bill that betrays the American people by funding tax cuts for the wealthiest few on the backs of the most vulnerable.

“Too many Americans find it harder to put food on the table, afford quality health care, and keep a roof over their heads. Instead of addressing those rising costs, House Republicans chose to nickel and dime our nation’s most vulnerable and gut the programs that millions of children, veterans, seniors and low-income communities rely upon to survive — all to make room in the budget for tax cuts for the wealthiest few in this country.

“Republicans have chosen to sell out their own constituents by approving massive cuts to Medicaid that will kick millions of hardworking people off their health insurance and take food out of the mouths of millions more ​​ — including hungry kids, seniors and veterans. 

“The bill further restricts access to comprehensive reproductive care by defunding Planned Parenthood and effectively banning marketplace insurance plans from covering abortion services — even when patients pays for them out of their own pocket.

“A $5 trillion handout to the ultra-wealthy has nothing to do with fiscal responsibility and will only make life harder and more expensive for the millions of Americans who have to pay for it. 

“This bill also blows massive holes in state budgets while shifting more responsibility to states already grappling with Trump Administration funding freezes. As a result, states will be left in the untenable position of raising taxes or gutting even more essential services.

“Trump and House Republicans have made their priorities clear, putting the mega rich and special interests over the hardworking people who sent them to Washington. 

“I voted no on this big bad billionaire bonus.”

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