WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim delivered remarks on the Senate Floor decrying congressional Republicans’ outrageous cuts to Medicaid in their budget resolution to be able to hand tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. Ahead of the Senate’s marathon voting session on the budget resolution, he shared the stories of some of the nearly two million New Jerseyans who rely on Medicaid for their critical care. 

Video of Senator Kim’s Full Remarks  

Key quotes from Senator Kim’s remarks as prepared include: 

 

“Madam President, I rise today to tell the stories of the nearly two million New Jerseyans who rely on Medicaid for their critical care… I do this, because the care of more than 72 million Americans across our country enrolled in Medicaid is at risk. They are at risk because Republicans in the House and the Senate have chosen to take away their care so that Elon Musk and the very richest Americans can pay a little less in taxes.  

 

“Nationally, about 40 percent of children are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP – in New Jersey one third of children, 1 in 3 kids, in my state are enrolled in Medicaid. As the father of a seven and nine year old I can tell you that most important thing is knowing that your kids are healthy…When you take away Medicaid, you’re not just taking away care, you’re taking away the peace of mind that parents deserve.

 

“So when Republicans are talking about cutting Medicaid to hand tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, the choice they are making is to leave people like Nicole and Jordan — Like Jamie and David behind.

 

“Life is hard enough. Care is hard enough. The point of Medicaid – the point of government – is to make it a little easier. A little more bearable. So when Republicans come to the Floor with a budget that threatens to cut Medicaid so they can give a tax cuts and break to the super rich – the choice they’re putting before us is making your lives worse to make their lives better. 

 

“This is a moment to show the two million New Jerseyans on Medicaid, the nearly 80 million Americans on Medicaid, and every other American across this country that we choose their wellbeing over the wealth and power of those who already have plenty. Let’s reject this budget resolution and do the right thing for them.” 

 

Over the past few weeks, Senator Kim has heard directly from New Jerseyans who would be impacted by cuts to Medicaid, including parents of disabled children, and hosted a series of town halls where people voiced their outrage at congressional Republicans for working to gut Medicaid. Senator Kim was also honored to invite Kevin Nuñez, a dedicated disability rights activist from New Jersey and someone who relies on Medicaid to live an independent life of dignity, as his guest to this year’s State of the Union address to elevate the direct impact of the Trump administration’s cuts. 

 

While one in three children in New Jersey rely on Medicaid, Republicans in Congress support a budget that would slash $880 billion from the program. Cuts to Medicaid would impact 300,000 people with a disability in New Jersey and 60% of nursing home residents who utilize Medicaid for their care. In the state, one in seven adults between the ages of 19 and 64 are covered by Medicaid. 

 

Senator Kim is a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging. Before being elected to the U.S. Senate, Kim represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House and was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. Learn more about Senator Kim’s service on behalf of New Jersey here.   

 

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