RURAL HOSPITALS AT STAKE: Warnock Brings Washington GOP Face to Face with Consequences of Health Care Cuts at SOTU Speech

Above: Senator Warnock and Bill Lee meet the press ahead of the State of the Union
Washington, D.C.– This week, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) rebuked President Trump and Washington Republicans’ devastating cuts to health care in last year’s GOP tax law that will kick 750,000 Georgians off their health care and put rural hospitals at risk. The president and his party shamelessly celebrated these health care cuts during this year’s State of the Union speech.
Above: Senator Warnock and Bill Lee catching up in the Senator’s D.C. office following their August 2025 meeting in Claxton
During the State of the Union, Donald Trump highlighted his sole legislative feat in his first year back in office, which centered on cutting federal investments in health care to pay for a tax cut for billionaires. To underscore the harms of these cuts, Senator Warnock invited Evans Memorial Hospital CEO Bill Lee as his guest to the State of the Union. Evans Memorial is a rural, not-for-profit hospital located in the South Georgia town of Claxton. In August 2025, Senator Warnock met with Bill at Evans Memorial following the passage of Washington Republicans’ tax law. Evans Memorial currently faces a $1 million shortfall due to the GOP tax law, with continued uncertainty that could drive that number higher.
More coverage of Senator Warnock’s reaction to the State of the Union can be found below:
WTOC:Sen. Warnock calls on president to protect Medicaid, rural hospitals ahead of State of the Union
CBS News:Warnock invites South Georgia hospital CEO to State of the Union amid rural health care funding concerns
MS NOW:Warnock: Trump is a ‘desperate and divisive demagogue’ who unleashes ‘poison’ into politics
WSB Radio:Warnock hopes Trump addresses problems impacting Americans during State of the Union address
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