On Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, Warner and Kaine Introduce Bill to Repeal Health Care Provisions in Republican “Big Ugly Bill”

WASHINGTON –Today, on the 60th anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, (both D-VA) introduced legislation to repeal the health care provisions in President Donald Trump and Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Bill’ and permanently extend theAffordable Care Act’senhanced tax credits, which expire at the end of the year. The law, which Warner and Kaine strongly opposed, will result in more than 15 million people losing their health insurance under Medicaid and theAffordable Care Actandmany rural hospitals losing federal fundingfrom Medicaid, putting them at risk of closure.
“In the 60 years since President Johnson signed the law that established Medicare and Medicaid, millions of Americans have been able to access the health care they need. Sadly, instead of strengthening these programs, President Trump and Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Bill’ will do the opposite and kick people off their health insurance under Medicaid and theAffordable Care Act,”said the senators.“We will all be better off if more people can access health insurance, and that’s why we’re proud to join our colleagues in introducing legislation to repeal the health care changes in the disastrous Republican law and extend theAffordable Care Act’senhanced tax credits so Virginians can continue to access care.”
TheRepublican lawmakes massive cuts to health care, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs that Virginians rely on in order to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy. While the bill was being considered in the Senate,WarnerandKaineintroduced a series of amendments in an attempt to improve the legislation, but Republicans blocked them.
78,000 Virginianswill lose access to some benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Virginia will be required to contribute anestimated $263 millionannually in state cost-share for benefits, which have always been fully federally funded. The law jeopardizes clean energy jobs in Virginia by phasing out clean energy and energy efficiency tax credits and incentives that were passed in theInflation Reduction Act. The law gives the top 0.1% a $250,000 tax cut and makes it harder for students to access student loans. The legislation also includes $85 million to move the Space ShuttleDiscoveryfrom the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia to Houston, Texas; the full cost to move the space shuttle is estimated to be$300-$400 million.
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