May 15, 2025
This is an urgent call to action.
House Republicans have released the text of their budget reconciliation bill and, as expected, it calls for the largest cut to Medicaid in history.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill would result in 13.7 million Americans losing their healthcare coverage. The sole purpose of this drastic cut is to permanently fund tax cuts for the ultra-rich.
These GOP-proposed cuts will have massive repercussions for our healthcare system. People will still need healthcare, but state and local governments will have far less money to help meet those needs. Emergency rooms will see more uninsured individuals. Some hospitals and clinics may not be able to survive these cuts.
Republicans who promised not to cut Medicaid benefits should vote NO. And the President must uphold his promise not to cut Medicaid.
We need to take action to tell Congress to stop taking healthcare coverage and healthcare away from millions of Americans just to further enrich the wealthiest few in our nation!
Please see below to learn how you can take action NOW. We are also providing important resources and information on Medicaid for those of you who would like to learn more.
Take Action NOW!
Making phone calls is the most important way that you can take action NOW! Legislators do track the calls that they receive, and note the number of opponents and supporters who are making those calls.
We are urging three actions: a) a call to the chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee; b) call to Illinois Congressional Representatives; and c) adding your name to a petition to protect Medicaid.
a) The House Committee on Energy and Commerce needs to hear from you NOW! Please call as many of the Republican members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to express your opposition to Medicaid cuts. Even if your Congressperson does not belong to the committee, you have an absolute right to make your voice heard because these are decisions that will affect the entire nation, and Illinois will be especially hard-hit.
Here is a link to the members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and choose “MEMBERS” at the top of the page.
If you can only call one, please call Brett Guthrie (R), Kentucky District 2. He is the Chair of the Committee, and his phone number is 202-225-3501.
Sample Message: “My name is [NAME] and I live in [Town/City], [State]. I am calling because I know that Congress is preparing to vote on a budget reconciliation bill that will require deep cuts to Medicaid in order to offset big tax breaks for the wealthy.
I urge you to vote no on any budget reconciliation bill that requires cuts. Your constituents are counting on you to protect Medicaid and other health care programs that keep people healthy.”
b) Please also call as many of the Representatives listed below as possible! And if they are not your representative, you can still call them! The federal budget affects all of us, and how these Representatives vote will help determine the future of Medicaid, SNAP, and the other programs that support our community members. Therefore, it is perfectly fine for you to call these central IL members of Congress, in addition to your own members of Congress for your district.
Also, please share this message with other people so that they can help make calls as well.
Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12)
Office Phone: (202) 225-5661
Sample Language: “I’m calling to ask Rep. Bost to stand with his 218,129 constituents who rely on Medicaid and other essential programs like SNAP. Cuts to these programs will hurt families while benefiting the wealthy with big tax breaks. Please vote NO on Medicaid cuts to protect your constituents. Thank you for your time.”
Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15)
Office Phone: (202) 225-5271
Sample Language: “I’m calling to ask Rep. Miller to stand with her 190,635 constituents who rely on Medicaid and other essential programs like SNAP. Cuts to these programs will hurt families while benefiting the wealthy with big tax breaks. Please vote NO on Medicaid cuts to protect your constituents. Thank you for your time.”
Rep. Darin LaHood (IL-16)
Office Phone: (202) 225-6201
Sample Language: “I’m calling to ask Rep. LaHood to stand with his 150,344 constituents who rely on Medicaid and other essential programs like SNAP. Cuts to these programs will hurt families while benefiting the wealthy with big tax breaks. Please vote NO on Medicaid cuts to protect your constituents. Thank you for your time.”
You can also call 866-426-2631 now to be connected to your representative in Congress.
Here is a suggested script:
📞 Hello, my name is [Your Name] and I live in [Town/City]. I’m calling because I’m a constituent and I’m deeply concerned about potential cuts to Medicaid and other essential programs like SNAP. These cuts would hurt families while benefiting the wealthy with big tax breaks. Please vote NO on Medicaid cuts to protect your constituents.
Making a phone call is the most important thing that you can do right now.
c) Sign the petition by Community Catalyst to protect Medicaid!
Please share this information with others so that they can join you in taking action!
Background:
Republican leaders in Congress are pushing forward legislation that would cut billions in funding for Medicaid and other programs that individuals rely on to meet their basic needs. Now is the time to tell your representatives in the House to reject any budget that uses Medicaid and other benefits as a piggy bank to fund tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations and mass deportations.
These massive cuts threaten coverage for millions of low-income individuals, families, and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for their health and long-term care needs. Medicaid is a lifeline for enrollees. Whether Medicaid cuts come in the form of red tape such as work requirements and stricter eligibility rules, or caps and cuts to federal funding, the result is the same: any Medicaid cut will take away health care access from underserved communities.
Resources and Information:
CCHCC collaborates with many great state-based and national organizations, and is happy to share information from these groups as we all work together to try to protect the vital programs that improve and save people’s lives, including Medicaid and SNAP. Below are some links to important resources and information, for those of you who would like to learn more or do a deeper dive into the topics of Medicaid and other vital programs.
From KFF – on information on States most affected by proposed Medicaid cuts (includes Illinois), and tracking Medicaid provisions in the Budget Reconciliation bills:
Which States Would Be Affected by a House Proposal to Cut Federal Medicaid Funding for States That Cover Undocumented Immigrants?
Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill
From Medicare Rights Center – On the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis on how Medicaid cuts will affect coverage, including for people with Medicare
From Families USA – On their “Defending Medicaid” resource page.
And another resource from KFF, explaining the history of Medicaid expansion.
Thank you for your activism!
Sincerely,
Champaign County Health Care Consumers