Beatty’s Message to GOP: If You’re Not Cutting Benefits, Prove It—Support My Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) testified before the House Rules Committee in support of her amendment to the Republican budget reconciliation bill, which would strip away critical health and food assistance from millions of Americans—all to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires.

Congresswoman Beatty arrived at the The Rules Committee hearing at  3:00 a.m. She remained in the hearing room for nearly nine hours before delivering her testimony just before 12:00 p.m., underscoring her unwavering commitment to standing up for working families in Ohio and across the country.

Beatty’s amendment—Amendment #280—would block the implementation of the Republican bill’s tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy if any of its provisions result in cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“Despite what the title of the Republican budget reconciliation bill would have you believe, it is not ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’”Beatty testified. “It’s a big billionaire bankroll bill. And it is one of the biggest and most reckless and heartless attacks on American families.”

Beatty warned that the bill would rip away health care from nearly 14 million Americans and deny food assistance to 11 million children, with the savings used to bankroll tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans—averaging $278,000 a year, or $762 per day.

“The worst part is that none of this is necessary,” she continued. “It is only being done to bankroll a billionaire’s tax cut.”

In her testimony, Beatty grounded her remarks in the real-life impact of these proposed cuts, highlighting Arnishia, an Ohio mother of two and recent cancer survivor who depends on Medicaid for ongoing care and is scheduled for foot surgery that would only be affordable with Medicaid. Her family also relies on SNAP to put healthy food on the table.

“I’m offering this amendment for the 2.4 million Ohioans who rely on Medicaid to access critical health care services like blood pressure, diabetes screenings, mammograms, mental health services, and other life care situations,” Beatty said.

“I’m offering this amendment for the more than 42 million Americans without federal food assistance, that they might not eat tomorrow. I’m offering this amendment for Americans who are struggling to get by and counting on us to lower their costs, not enrich billionaires.”

Beatty concluded by emphasizing that if Republicans are confident their bill doesn’t cut Medicaid or SNAP, she argued, they should have no problem supporting it.

“If you believe that is true, then you should have no problem supporting my amendment,” she said. “It would make no changes if the bill does not cut Medicaid or food assistance.”

Watch Rep. Beatty’s testimony HERE.

See Rep. Beatty’s delivered statement to the Rules Committee HERE

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