Congresswoman Joyce Beatty Statement on the Passage of the Republican “One Big Ugly” Budget Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –  Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) today issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Republican “One Big Ugly” budget bill:

“Today, House Republicans forced through their One Big Ugly Bill, enacting cruel cuts that will devastate millions of Americans after over 20 hours of floor debate. I joined my Democratic colleagues on the House Floor in the early morning hours of the debate and voted NO in fierce opposition. This bill may have passed, but the fight for everyday Americans is far from over. I will keep standing up for our communities against this brutal betrayal.

Budgets are moral documents, and this one was morally bankrupt. It forces through the largest cut to Medicaid and nutritional assistance in American history, gutting billions from food aid for children, seniors, and families. Americans will be forced to forgo lifesaving health care, and lives will be lost. Children, veterans, and seniors will go to bed hungry in the richest country in the world. Meanwhile, billionaires will keep getting richer while everyday Americans struggle just to get by.

What this means for Ohioans in the Third District and our state:

• Health care and Food Assistance in Ohio:
  • More than 489,000 people will lose their health care
  • 11 rural hospitals are at risk of shutting their doors
  • 1.4 million Ohioans who rely on SNAP will be at risk
  • The Ohio budget will be hit, as the state will be left with millions of dollars in funding gaps created by Republicans’ decision to shift federal SNAP costs onto states.
• Health care and Food Assistance in the Third District
  • Affordable Care Act enrollees will see their health insurance premiums increase by an average of $670
  • 72,000 people in OH-03 who rely on SNAP will be at risk
• Other living costs and protections
  • Ohio families will see an average yearly increase of $410 in their energy bills
  • 126,174 students in Ohio could have their Pell grants cut or eliminated entirely, including 31,868 students in OH-03

And that’s just the beginning. Let’s be honest, this bill was never about fiscal responsibility. It was always about Republicans bankrolling their billionaire friends with $5 trillion in tax cuts, while abandoning our moral responsibility to improve the lives of people in our communities. The top 20% get two-thirds of the benefit. The middle class is left behind. The poor are pushed further down.

Slashing safety nets to fund tax breaks isn't reform, it’s robbery. And you can’t call it conservative if it harms and costs more.

The impact of this bill on Americans cannot be overstated. Despite today’s outcome, House Democrats will continue to fight for the people, not the powerful.”

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