Fitzpatrick Statement on Senate Amendment to H.R. 1

As I’ve stated throughout these negotiations, with each iteration of legislative text that was placed on the House Floor, I’ve maintained a close and watchful eye on the specific details of these provisions, and determined the specific district impact, positive or negative, on our PA-1 community. I voted to strengthen Medicaid protections and increase Medicaid spending, to permanently extend middle class tax cuts, for enhanced small business tax relief, and for historic investments in our border security and our military. However, it was the Senate’s amendments to Medicaid, in addition to several other Senate provisions, that altered the analysis for our PA-1 community. The original House language was written in a way that protected our community; the Senate amendments fell short of our standard. If the Senate was seeking additional tax relief, it should be paid for by my Bipartisan Tax Fairness Act, H.R. 4280 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4280 ), not by impacting Medicaid. I believe in, and will always fight for, policies that are thoughtful, compassionate, and good for our community. It is this standard that will always guide my legislative decisions.