Statement of Rep. Danny K. Davis
Ways and Means Committee
Hearing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Today, Secretary Bessent appears here to praise the Republican One Big Beautiful bill that is the most cruel, draconian, inhumane legislation that I’ve voted on since I’ve been here. Government, I seriously believe, should help people and not hurt them.
I reject this bill that makes poor people poorer, sick people sicker, and hungry people hungrier.
I reject this bill that bill rips health care from 16 million Americans, with over 498,000 Illinoisans expected to lose their health insurance, including 102,000 children and 27,000 seniors in my District alone.
I reject this bill that threatens my constituent Debra and her two children whom she adopted from foster care. This picture behind me shows Debra’s children who are medically-fragile and rely solely on Medicaid for their health care.
I reject this bill that will close hospitals in my district and kick people out of their nursing homes - not only in my district but across the country, especially in urban inner-city communities and rural communities for sure.
I reject this bill that explodes poverty and suffering while giving the wealthy trillions in tax cuts.
I reject this bill’s irresponsible explosion of the deficit that triggers statutory cuts to critical programs supporting children and families.
These Paygo reductions would eliminate funding for the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program – known as MIECHV - that is proven to improve mother and child health, family safety, and child development. It would eliminate the guaranteed funding for the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program that we know helps prevent child maltreatment and strengthen families. It would eradicate the Social Services Block Grant that provides substantial investment in child care, child welfare, and adult protective services. These egregious cuts alone will cost Illinois over $72 million dollars and hurt Illinois children, seniors, and families.
I reject this bill that gifts tax cuts to the wealthy paid for by denying and depriving low-income, poor people, senior citizens, sick people, unhealthy people the health care, food assistance, housing assistance, and economic development opportunities that they need.
This bill reminds me that there is something rotten in Denmark. There is something wrong with the thinking that puts such a bill in front of us. This bill is actually what we call the Robinhood in Reverse. Take from the poor. Take from the disabled. Take from the sick. Take from the hungry. And give to the wealthy. It is not good. It is immoral. I reject it.
