[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Medicaid

  Mr. President, now, on another important issue, I have a few, I 
think, very important things to talk about today, including the bill we 
passed last year and the briefing and its effect on what we should do 
in terms of debt ceiling and our budget. But here is another one: 
Medicaid.
  Yesterday, I joined with a few of my colleagues to shine light on how 
radical out-of-touch MAGA Republicans in the House are. In the House 
budget, they are putting pen to paper on proposals that would devastate 
American families and slash the programs that millions of people rely 
on. These are not abstract issues. They would cause immense pain to 
countless Americans.
  Republicans have been scrambling over the past few days to try to 
convince the American people that they won't touch Medicare or Social 
Security, even though we literally have years' worth of statements and 
speeches showing that many of them believe just the opposite.
  But another critical question remains unanswered and must be 
addressed. Are Republicans also going to target Medicaid? Medicaid is 
one of the most important programs in the country. One in four 
Americans rely on Medicaid to cover their healthcare needs.
  Let me say that again. One in four Americans rely on Medicaid to 
cover healthcare needs.
  It is not just low-income Americans that benefit from Medicaid--as 
important as helping them is, which, of course, it is--it is also 
middle-class families who have to pay, for instance, to put their 
parents in nursing homes. A couple in their mid forties, who have 
parents in nursing homes or assisted living, would have a huge burden 
placed upon them if Medicaid were slashed. These families work hard. 
Cutting Medicaid would put a huge economic burden on them as they 
struggle and work to stay in the middle class.
  And Medicaid helps others too: people with disabilities, pregnant 
women, children, and so many more.
  Let me say again: Medicaid is absolutely a middle-class issue in 
addition to helping low-income Americans. And we, on our side, want to 
help both.
  Are Republicans going to strip away coverage for one in four 
Americans? We really don't know because Republicans won't show us their 
plan.
  Americans are right to be worried about their Medicaid benefits 
because these MAGA proposals are coming right at them, at their 
expense. We must work to protect and strengthen programs like Medicaid, 
not put them on the chopping block.