WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim released the following statement after House Republicans voted to pass the largest cut to Medicaid in the country’s history:

“I strongly condemn the votes of Reps. Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith that will hurt countless New Jersey families.  

“Tom Kean Jr. broke his promise and voted to continue the SALT tax cap for another decade instead of just letting the cap expire this year.  

“Jeff Van Drew said he wouldn’t support cuts for Americans eligible for Medicaid but then just voted to gut care for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans. 

“Chris Smith represents a large senior population in our state that I represented in the House for four years and that I know can’t afford these painful cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. 

“The passage of Trump’s Big Disastrous Bill is a disappointing display of cowardice and a betrayal of the American people. Let it sink in: they chose tax cuts for billionaires at the expense of the health, safety, and prosperity of the people who they represent.” 

While one in three children in New Jersey rely on Medicaid, Republicans in Congress voted to pass a budget that slashes $930 billion from the program. Cuts to Medicaid would impact 300,000 people with a disability in New Jersey and 60% of nursing home residents who utilize Medicaid for their care. In the state, one in seven adults between the ages of 19 and 64 are covered by Medicaid.  

Before being elected to the U.S. Senate, Kim represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House and was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. Learn more about Senator Kim’s service on behalf of New Jersey here.

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