Cutting Medicaid

The U.S. Congress must reject Republicans’ plans to cut a devastating $880 billion from our nation’s cherished Medicaid program. Medicaid is an essential health care program for more than 72 million Americans, including children, families, seniors, new parents, people with disabilities, and low-income people across the country.

Medicaid makes up 30% of state budgets, meaning cuts to federal support would force every state to make impossible choices: Slash health care for those who need it most or gut other core programs that states fund. This health care program allows families to stay healthy and financially stable, keeps our state budgets steady, and keeps the doors of the hospitals that we ALL depend on open.

The impact of these massive cuts would be far-reaching, further disrupting the economy and care in all communities across all life-stages: Nearly half of the nation’s births; approximately 62% of long-term care residents in nursing homes; and one in three people with disabilities get the care they need through Medicaid. Plus, Medicaid cuts are deeply unpopular — 88% of voters are against cutting federal funding for Medicaid.

Medicaid covers 15 million Americans with disabilities nationwide, providing essential health coverage and life-changing support services that enable them to live independently and thrive in their communities. School-based Medicaid programs provide many kids with their only access to the vital health services and care students need to ensure that they have the foundation to succeed in school and beyond. Children with Medicaid are also more likely than those who are uninsured to receive preventive care that keeps them healthy including routine checkups.

I urge you to join me in telling Congress: Hands off Medicaid!

Bart Ryan

Waltham

Merchant Marine

President Trump plans to revive the U.S. maritime ship building industry, including levying tariffs and fees on Chinese ships entering American ports. Now Congress must pass the SHIPS Act, which will increase our ship building capacity and hopefully the size of our merchant marine. It could also provide economies of scale and expertise to rebuild our Navy.

Since WWII the U.S. has had a steady decline in U.S. flagged merchant ships from about 50% of the world’s cargo shipping to about 1% today. Our merchant marine has less than 10,000 mariners compared to 50,000 in 1960. Our Navy is hard pressed to find commercial ships to support its operations.

China leads the world in commercial shipping and ship building. It has 5,500 ships in maritime trade compared to 80 for the U.S. China, an economic and military adversary, is a big user of the Panama Canal, and this is why President Trump wants to exert pressure on Panama to have Chinese companies relinquish ownership of Panama Canal port facilities.

Approximately 90% of the world’s goods are transported by ships. We must increase U.S. flagged ships to compete with China and other countries, and for our national security.

Donald Moskowitz

Londonderry, NH