WASHINGTON D.C. –  Senator Andy Kim participated in a 10-hour marathon voting session until 4:30am Friday on the Republican reconciliation budget bill agenda that would cut critical programs Americans rely on in-order to afford the Trump administration’s tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. Senator Kim filed seven amendments to the bill to help lower everyday costs for families, defend essential services and programs that support New Jersey communities, and look out for America’s national security. 

“Through this entire “vote-a-rama,” Senate Republicans showed they are in lockstep with the Trump administration’s plan to pad the pockets of the ultra-wealthy with dollars that belong to working families,” said Senator Kim. “We voted all night long on amendments. While Americans face rising costs and worry about sending their kids to school hungry, Senate Republicans have pushed forward a budget plan that leaves them behind. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to stand up for working families and stop the Republican giveaway to the richest and most powerful.” 

Amendments introduced by Senator Kim would stand by New Jersey families and against the Trump administration’s extreme and dangerous agenda by doing the following: 

• Combat child hunger by ensuring funding for federally assisted meal programs that provide low-cost or free breakfasts and lunches to children at school.
  • Over 370,000 kids in New Jersey alone relied on a free or reduced lunch at school during the 2023-2024 school year. 

• Protect the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from privatization or elimination to ensure New Jerseyans and people across the nation have access to flood insurance.
  • According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 522 of 566 municipalities in New Jersey as well as the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority participate in NFIP demonstrating how critical the program is to keeping flood insurance rates lower for homeowners across the state. 

• Combat the housing affordability crisis and help young families attain the American Dream of owning a home by ensuring provisions in the Republican’s budget resolution bill cannot increase the deficit or raise the cost of home ownership for working families. 
• Stand up against President Trump’s threats to withhold federal research funding from schools and ensure Federal scientific research funds cannot be withheld due to partisan political priorities. 
• Reassure countries around the world that the United States can be a reliable partner and counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by protecting funding for foreign assistance programs, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. 
• Help communities recover from extreme weather by preventing cuts to funding for disaster recovery relief through FEMA. 
• Protect veterans and military families from predatory lending by blocking the Trump administration’s illegal attempts to dismantle federal agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s enforcement efforts.
  • The CFPB has returned $363 million to servicemembers and veterans, including ordering Navy Federal Credit Union to refund $80 million for charging illegal overdraft fees. 

Key provisions Senator Kim supported but Senate Republican’s refused to pass: 

• Deliver affordable and accessible healthcare access by preserving and extending vital tax credits enacted by the Affordable Care Act. 
• Prevent any legislation that would raise energy costs for Americans, including monthly electricity bills. 
• Protect against cuts or reduced access to maternal and pediatric healthcare for Medicaid enrollees. 
• Block legislative attempts to reduce Medicare and Medicaid benefits for millions of Americans, from kids, seniors, people in rural areas, to people with disabilities. 
• Protect the funding and staffing necessary to respond to and protect Americans from the avian flu. 

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