“The lives of thousands of our residents – and your constituents – are on the line.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins is calling on US Congressman George Latimer and US Congressman Mike Lawler to oppose the federal budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, following its recent passage in the U.S. Senate. The Bill, which expands already harmful provisions passed by the House, would severely cut funding to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with catastrophic consequences for the residents of Westchester County.
Jenkins wrote: “In short – H.R. 1 was bad before. But the Senate’s changes will cut insurance coverage for more residents. They will overwhelm hospitals, and increase costs. They will force taxpayers to pay more for less. They will force our veterans, children and elderly to go hungry, when thousands are already standing in bread lines to feed their families.”
As detailed in the letter:
- Over 240,000 Westchester residents currently rely on Medicaid. The House-passed version already slashed coverage for more than 13,000 people in NY’s 16th and 17th Congressional Districts. The Senate’s amendments would worsen this by imposing stricter work requirements and restricting eligibility.
- Westchester County could face a $23 million annual shortfall if required to shoulder additional Medicaid costs shifted from the federal government.
- Hospitals and medical facilities in NYCD16 & NYCD17 would lose over $62 million annually, potentially resulting in closures and reduced access to care for all residents.
- SNAP cuts would strip food assistance from thousands of Westchester residents, including veterans, the elderly and working parents. Parents or grandparents caring for children over the age of 13 could also lose eligibility.
Jenkins wrote: “Westchester’s unemployment rate is 3.4%, well below the national average. With 23.9% of Westchester’s population on Medicaid, it is blatantly clear that many hardworking Americans rely on this program, and that many hardworking Americans, already struggling against tariff-induced price increases, will lose their coverage if these cuts are allowed to move forwards.”
Jenkins pledged Westchester’s full support to both lawmakers in any effort to stop the legislation from moving forward. He wrote: “The lives of thousands of our residents – and your constituents – are on the line.”