Thank you to those COPAA members who have shared your stories about why Medicaid matters and the harms it will cause to you/your family if Congress’s proposed [deep] cuts are made to Medicaid through budget reconciliation. Your voice is making a difference, as some moderate Senate Republicans are listening as they learn more about the harmful impacts these cuts would have on their constituents. We must keep up the momentum!

Background: Republicans are seeking to extend the 2017 business tax credits and other provisions totaling more than $1.5 trillion through a budget reconciliation bill. The budget reconciliation process is separate from the annual appropriations process Congress uses to fund IDEA annually and is only available when a Party (e.g., Republicans) controls both the White House and Congress. The partisan reconciliation bill is a top priority of the Republicans and is expected to be sent to President Trump for signing in early July.

Under budget reconciliation rules, Congress must find ‘pay fors’ to extend any tax credits or alter revenue-related items in the federal budget. The ‘pay fors’ proposed by the House in HR 1 and some Senate Republicans includes more than $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid and $350 million in cuts to student loans while at the same time proposing a new $4 billion/yr (with no expiration) for a federally funded school voucher mechanism that will not protect access to IDEA rights. In short, the deep cuts to Medicaid and the voucher provision will harm students with disabilities.

THIS WEEK, the Senate is expected to debate and vote on its budget reconciliation bill. PLEASE TELL your Senators to support and protect children with disabilities and REJECT the current budget reconciliation bill.