60 years ago today, America made a promise: to not leave seniors, children, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty behind– that every American, no matter their zip code, has a right to access the essential healthcare they need. Unfortunately, today, Donald Trump is breaking that promise.
Since they were established on July 30, 1965, Medicare and Medicaid have saved countless lives and lifted millions from poverty. Today, 1 in 4 Coloradans gets their health care through Medicaid. But with their Big, Ugly Bill, Donald Trump and House Republicans passed the largest Medicaid cut in history. They are kicking more than 15 million people off their health care–including more than 240,000 Coloradans– slashing Medicare, and forcing hospitals and nursing homes to close– all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-rich. People will die because of these devastating cuts.
I offered 11 amendments to this disastrous bill that would have protected vulnerable Americans from losing health care. But House Republicans shamefully rejected all 11 of my amendments.
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I know families and seniors are scared of what this means. That’s whyI visited Eaton Senior Center in Lakewood to hear directly from seniors in our community.Like so many in our community, they cannot afford to lose coverage or shoulder increased costs beyond what they are budgeting. While Republicans mislead the public about their Big, Ugly Bill and downplay the detrimental ripple effects, it is crucial for me to hear directly from those who will be hit hardest.
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My office has received thousands of phone calls, letters, and emails from people across our community who are terrified about what this legislation will mean for them and their families. I created aweb pageto serve as a resource and guide to the coming changes.
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On the 60th anniversary, as your representative, I remain committed to the promise our country made. I will never stop fighting to protect Medicare and Medicaid. That means lowering out-of-pocket costs, expanding access to care, and making sure these programs are strong for future generations— because health care should be a right, not a privilege.
If you need help with Medicaid and Medicare, my office is here to help. Give us a call at (303) 274-7944.
Thanks for reading,
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Brittany Pettersen
Member of Congress
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