Democratic Women’s Caucus Leaders to Committee Republicans: Don’t Cut Medicaid and SNAP, Stand with Women and Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — 43 Democratic Women’s Caucus members led by DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Vice Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13), and Policy Task Force Co Chair Deborah K. Ross (NC-02) sent a letter to the Republican Members of the House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Agriculture Committees. The letter urged Republicans to stand with women and families by protecting Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs women and families need to thrive in their budget.

In the letter, sent Monday evening ahead of markups this week, DWC members explained why Medicaid and SNAP are so important for women and families across America, and how devastating these cuts will be to women already struggling to put food on the table or provide for their families.

In the letter, DWC members explained why SNAP cuts would be so harmful to women:

“62% of SNAP households serving children are headed by a single adult, of which 92% were headed by women. We have a simple question for you: will you stand with single moms trying to feed their kids or with billionaires? Cuts to SNAP could steal food from the mouths of 11 million children ages 5 to 17; 4.4 million children under the age of 5; and 7.8 million seniors ages 60 and older. With rising grocery prices, this devastation will be felt even harder.”

Additionally, they explain that cuts to Medicaid will harm pregnant women and people who need to access hospitals—not reduce waste, fraud, or abuse: 

“Ripping health care away from pregnant women and closing down rural hospitals under the guise of ‘eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse’ is nothing but a poor excuse for abandoning women, babies, and your duty as a Member of Congress. There are many ways to reduce fraud and keep women safe–we call on you to protect women and babies by voting against any and all cuts to Medicaid and other essential health programs.”

The Members also called on Republicans to “consider the experiences of your constituents who are navigating increasing costs while raising a family and preserve or increase the Child Tax Credit to help women and families.”

The full letter can be accessed here. 

In addition to letter leads Teresa Leger Fernández, Emilia Strong Sykes, Deborah K. Ross, the letter was signed by: Jasmine Crockett, Shontel M. Brown, Nikema Williams, Debbie Dingell, Andrea Salinas, Joyce Beatty, Norma J. Torres, Lois Frankel, Emily Randall, Melanie Stansbury, Judy Chu, Sarah McBride, Sarah Elfreth, Brittany Pettersen, Betty McCollum, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Jill Tokuda, Nancy Pelosi, Sylvia R. Garcia, Kathy Castor, Jahana Hayes, Summer L. Lee, Suzanne Bonamici, Frederica S. Wilson, Julia Brownley, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Terri A. Sewell, Laura Friedman, Jennifer L. McClellan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chellie Pingree, April McClain Delaney, Rashida Tlaib, Mary Gay Scanlon, Kelly Morrison, Yassamin Ansari, Valerie Foushee, Pramila Jayapal, and Lucy McBath.