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About a month ago, Senator Lisa Murkowski made a stunning admission about the Republican party and the Trump Administration: “We are all afraid... I’ll tell you, I’m often very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real. And that’s not right.”
She’s correct about one thing: that’s not right. Leadership takes courage, and let me tell you: I’m not afraid.
One of my most critical jobs in Congress is oversight on the House Appropriations Committee: that means I approve federal spending, keep a close eye on how taxpayer money is used, and question cabinet officials under oath.
Right now, this role is even more important as review has begun on the GOP’s budget bill (aka Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”). It is clear that there is no way to support their tax cuts for the 1% without massive cuts and changes to healthcare, including Medicaid funding. Early estimates show that their proposal will leave over 8 million Americans uninsured.
The GOP knows Americans don’t want cuts to healthcare but are too scared to stand up to their own leader, which means I have the grave responsibility of holding Donald Trump’s most craven, corrupt, and unqualified loyalists accountable to the people and the offices they hold.
Sometimes this gets heated, but I’m telling you — on your behalf, I’ve had enough.
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My recent questioning of FBI Director Kash Patel, who has now demonstrably committed perjury under oath, got intense.
“The FBI cannot be weaponized. And under your leadership, it has been nothing but a weapon alongside the President. I am concerned that your eagerness and childlike giddiness to carry out the President’s revenge tour. You’ve shown yourself unfit to lead this important agency.”
Republicans may be afraid to confront the Trump Administration’s illegality. But I’m committed to doing my job — whether that’s participating as an impeachment prosecutor in 2021, or standing up to the FBI Director in 2025.
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I also had the opportunity this week to hold Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable for billions of dollars worth of public health budget cuts (particularly the shuttering of SAMHSA) that have caused chaos and uncertainty in the Philadelphia area. When I tell you I will fight as hard as I can for the people of PA — I mean it.
“You and I agree that overdose is a public health epidemic in this country. Then why would we, when we are finally seeing some success, bury that success, put it in an AHA program, which logically doesn’t make any sense?”
Republicans have no interest in being held accountable for their poor actions. In fact, RFK Jr. denied making cuts to SAMHSA at this hearing, even as the cuts were already made. They aren’t “making America healthy again,” they are making our healthcare services a joke.
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I’m not afraid of these guys. I’ll keep you posted on further developments on the Appropriations Committee. And I promise to keep you posted on the progress of the GOP’s agenda bill as things unfold.
— Madeleine
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Madeleine Dean is working on the priorities that will make an impact on our communities and our families. She’s also using her platform to assist other strong leaders as they consider a run for office.
Donate to her campaign to keep strong fighters like Mad in Congress.
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