Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” on the federal budget is in a position to have a devastating impact LGBTQ+Americans – But at least the Senate version has removed provisions banning federal funding under Medicaid for gender maintenance care.
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The House of Representatives OK the bill’s version in May, and the Senate passed the version Tuesday morning with a 50-51 vote, with Vice President JD Vance smashing the tie. Three Republican senators joined all Democrats in a vote against it – Randpole in Kentucky, Tom Tillis in North Carolina, and Susan Collins in Maine. Now it will go back home and adjust the two versions. Trump wants a final bill for his desk by Independence Day.
The bill extends tax cuts from Trump’s first term, reaching around $4.5 trillion, and will benefit mostly the wealthiest Americans. To offset the reductions, it will cut approximately $1 trillion from Medicaid, the joint federal national health insurance program for low-income people and their disability. It also includes supplemental nutrition support programs, or SNAP reductions, that help low-income Americans buy food.
The House version banned Medicaid and tip funding for gender maintenance care for transgender people of all ages, but the Senate removed that section. “Last week, Oregon Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden called Bird Rule after Sen. Elizabeth McDonough to challenge the anti-trans Medicaid ban. Morning Erin Report. but “Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Senator Sarah McBride, Delaware Rep., said they worked for Congress’ first out-of-out-the-remole.
Still, the final version of the bill will undoubtedly lead to suffering for LGBTQ+ people.
The Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will drive almost 14 million Americans out of Medicaid. A disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ Americans cover Medicaid healthcare, the Human Rights Campaign says. This includes 21% of trans people and 40% of people living with HIV. Approximately 22% to 25% of LGBTQ+ adults in the US are in poverty compared to approximately 16% of straight cisgender adults.
Medicaid is the largest funder of HIV care in the country, and “any cut will put access to essential treatment for individuals living with HIV at risk and undermine national efforts to end the epidemic.” According to HRC analysis. Many LGBTQ+ community health centers that rely on Medicaid dollars should reduce mental health services, gender-affirming care, and STI testing.
Snap reductions include stricter eligibility requirements, work obligations, and profit reductions. These also disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ Americans. Approximately 15% of LGBTQ+ adults (approximately 2.1 million, including 250,000 trans individuals and 1.3 million lesbian and bisexual women) received SNAP benefits compared to 11% of non-LGBTQQ+ adults, according to a new report from the Faculty of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles. SNAP is the largest prevention prevention program in the United States, supporting over 42 million people each month.
John Tune, the North Dakota Republican Senate Majority Leader, praised his Chamber of Commerce’s version of the bill. “I’m grateful for the narrow rim they have over there. [in the House] And the challenge the speaker and his team have before them, but I think we gave them a really strong product,” he said. Washington Post.“We think we’ve taken what they sent us, strengthened and improved it, so when it’s sent there, they’ll deliberate how they want to handle it, find the votes they need to pass it on and put it on the president’s desk.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republicans, and other House Republican leaders have released the statement. “This bill is on President Trump’s agenda, and we’re making the law. House Republicans are ready to finish their work and put one big, beautiful bill on President Trump’s desk in time for Independence Day.”
House Democrats plan the fight. “All the legislative tools and options are on the table,” said Hakeem Jeffries, a minority leader. New York Times. These include things called “magic minute.” This is “enables that home leaders like Jeffries can talk unlimited amounts of time on the floor.” The era I’ll explain it.
HRC President Kelly Robinson condemned the action in the statement. “Since this bill was introduced, at every moment, its Magazine supporters have tried to hide its consequences, lie about its consequences, and divert people from the ways they deflect people to make life even more difficult for all Americans, including LGBTQ+ people. The access to essential HIV prevention and treatment erodes the ability of Plannard parent-child relationships to continue serving all those who rely on it for Sen. Tom Tillis, a Republican Sen., in North Carolina, and asked important questions about the bill. [in North Carolina] In two or three years, did President Trump break his promise by pushing them away from Medicaid, as the funds aren’t there anymore? ”
“Even so, this fight isn’t over. This bill needs to return to the House of Representatives and instruct all Americans to contact members of Congress and reject this cruel and hateful bill.”
Healthhiv condemned it as well. “Programs like Medicaid are not budget line items, they are the backbone of care in this country,” said a statement from Health HIV advocacy director Scott Bertani. “They are not just safety nets, they are launch pads for HIV innovation in prevention and treatment, long-term health. It’s reckless and deeply unequal to attack them for tax credit financing for the wealthiest Americans.”
Also, Sinead Murano Kinney, a supporter of trans-equality health policy analysts, responded in the following statement: It has a silver lining, but there are repeated efforts regarding the use of federal funds for transition-related care in the bill. For access to trans happiness and life-saving care. …This battle will never end.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
