WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) voted ‘no’ on President Trump’s and Republicans’ bill that cuts Medicare, Medicaid, and food assistance for seniors, veterans, working families, and children. If passed in the Senate and signed into law, this bill will gut vital programs and would result in nearly 14 million Americans losing their healthcare, all so that Trump and Republicans can give tax cuts to billionaires. 

“I voted a resounding no on the Trump-Republican budget—a cruel plan that strips healthcare and food assistance from millions of seniors, children, veterans, and working families,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Budgets reflect values, and tonight Republicans showed they value billionaires over the men and women who build, serve, and sustain this country every day. This Trump-Republican scam was rushed through in the dead of night for a reason: they know they’ve betrayed the American people. Their cuts to home and long-term care put lives at risk, especially for our seniors. How dare they try to rip away basic rights from the people who we were elected to serve—we will fight back."

The Trump-Republican Scam will result in:

• The biggest loss of healthcare coverage in American history.
• According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill would result in $500 billion in cuts to Medicare.
• When legislation significantly adds to the national debt, this triggers “sequestration,” or mandatory budget reductions, forcing programs including Medicare to cut 4 percent of its budget annually, or $500 billion over 10 years.
• The bill will strip healthcare away from nearly 14 million Americans according to estimates by CBO.
• Increases out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid recipients by making people pay higher copays when they visit the doctor.
• Roughly 60 percent of the people who would lose Medicaid coverage would be seniors.
• The Joint Economic Committee estimates that 24,220 people in NJ-01 will lose their health insurance.

• The deepest cuts to food assistance ever.
• At least 3 million people will lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in an average month according to estimates by CBO.
• According to the Urban Institute, 18.3 million children could lose access to free school meals, either through individual certification or through their school or state’s participation in universal school meal programs.

• Handing trillions in tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations.
• Someone making over $1 million a year gets an $82,000 tax cut, while working people will pay more for groceries, healthcare, and energy.
• The top 0.1% stands to gain $278,000 per year, while the average family gets just $1,000.

• Exploding the debt and jeopardizing the economy.
• According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this bill would add $3.8 trillion to the national debt. 

###