The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to make spending cuts [[link removed]] in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. These horrific cuts would result in millions of people losing crucial access to programs like Medicaid, housing assistance, and SNAP! We’re hearing from our allies on the Hill that our community needs to act NOW and contact our Senators!

Medicaid is a government program that pays for health care access for many people with disabilities. Cuts to Medicaid will hurt many disabled people, especially those who already have the hardest time getting the care they need! These cuts would also affect our access to Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS)! We rely on Medicaid HCBS to live independently in our communities. These services are the first ones people lose when Medicaid funding is cut.



Additionally, the bill includes harmful work requirements that would force many people with disabilities and the people who provide us support to lose coverage. Work requirements are cruel, do not take into account the lived realities of Americans, and jeopardize the health and safety of hundreds of thousands of people who will lose access to Medicaid.

SNAP helps people living on low incomes afford food. Many people who get SNAP have disabilities. SNAP is especially important for people who get SSI. Cuts to SNAP mean people going hungry and having trouble meeting dietary needs!

Affordable housing is on the chopping block too, and people with disabilities, especially people who live on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are already struggling to pay for housing. Cuts to HCBS and affordable housing assistance will mean more disabled people forced into institutions because they can’t get the help they need to live in real homes!

These cuts would disproportionately affect people with disabilities, low-income families, and communities of color. Years of progress we’ve made in community living for all will be wiped away if this funding is cut. We need to stop this in its tracks and tell Congress to keep Medicaid OUT of debt ceiling negotiations!

Call your Senators and tell them that as a constituent, you want NO cuts to crucial programs like Medicaid!

You can use our script:

My name is [your full name] , and I am from [your city] . I am a constituent of [Senator NAME]. I’m calling to ask [Senator NAME] to oppose cuts to crucial programs like Medicaid in debt ceiling negotiations.

Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs will hurt many disabled people, especially those who already have the hardest time getting the care they need! This could also force many people into institutions because they can’t get the help they need to live in real homes. Everyone has a right to live in the community and that right includes accessing the support we need. Now, that support is on the chopping block when such cuts would affect millions and do more harm than good.

Can I count on the Senator to say NO to complicated work rules and any cuts to Medicaid in the debt ceiling negotiations?

Congress cannot cut these lifeline programs! Call your Senators today and tell them NO to Speaker McCarthy’s plan.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035
United States
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