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Indian American democrats slam GOP budget bill

The bill, which spans more than 1,000 pages and includes 42 pages of amendments, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a tight 215-214 vote. 

Indian American lawmakers / File Photo

Indian American democrats sharply criticized House republicans for allowing the narrow passage of a sweeping budget bill on May 22.

Dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" by its backers, the legislation passed the Republican-led House with a 215–214 vote after days of last-minute changes and internal negotiations. The measure proposes sweeping tax cuts while slashing funding for Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other federal safety net programs.

Also Read: US House narrowly passes Trump's sweeping tax-cut bill, sends on to Senate

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) condemned the rushed process on social media. “So what about the 1,000+ page bill you released in the middle of the night and then passed just hours later?” she posted on X. “You know, the one where you kick 14 million Americans off their health care?”



Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) issued a scathing statement, calling the legislation a betrayal of core promises. “I am proud to have rejected the Tax Scam bill,” he said. “They promised they wouldn't cut Medicaid, yet this bill takes away access to care and dignity for 13.7 million Americans.” 

Subramanyam also pointed to the bill’s $4 trillion increase to the national debt and deep cuts to programs like SNAP, which he said will lose $300 billion in funding. “The only promise they fulfilled is to mortgage our country’s present and future to fund giveaways to their billionaire and corporate donors,” he added.



Representative Ami Bera (CA-06), a physician and senior member of the Democratic Doctors Caucus, warned that the bill will exacerbate health inequities. “It eliminates health coverage for millions of people, threatens access to care in rural and underserved communities and raises costs across the board for the poorest 10 percent of households,” Bera said. 



“As a doctor, I’ve cared for patients who rely on Medicaid to manage chronic illnesses... These cuts would devastate our health care system.” Bera also emphasized the broader economic impact of the bill, arguing it will increase uncompensated care costs and strain already overburdened hospitals.

Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13) voiced similar concerns in a post on X, describing the bill as “disastrous” for working families. “It will cut $313 billion in food assistance and $880 billion in healthcare for Americans, but still increases our national debt by $3.3 trillion,” he wrote. Thanedar also highlighted how the bill affects reproductive rights, noting its provision banning ACA marketplace plans from covering abortion care.

“29 percent of my constituents rely on the $6 a day in food assistance SNAP provides, and 43 percent use Medicaid,” Thanedar added. “I am deeply disappointed that my Republican colleagues did not hear the concerns of their constituents and passed this harmful bill.”

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