Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on the passage of the GOP’s destructive budget bill, which is now on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Under this plan, 17 million Americans will be stripped of their health care. In North Carolina, these drastic funding cuts will shutter nursing homes and rural hospitals and put more than 600,000 North Carolinians at risk of losing their health care.

In addition, the Republican legislation guts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 20 percent, the largest cut in our nation’s history. Further, by phasing out clean energy tax credits, the GOP plan will cause American families to pay an average of $400 more per year nationwide and kill more than 840,000 clean energy jobs over the next 5 years as well as an additional 790,000 jobs over the next decade, including many in North Carolina.

“Under the direction of Donald Trump, Congressional Republicans have done the unimaginable,” said Congresswoman Ross. “To pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, they are kicking millions of Americans off their health care, gutting funding for food assistance for hungry families and children, and forcing middle class Americans to pay higher electricity bills. Making matters even worse, their legislation is also wildly irresponsible, adding trillions to our national debt.”

“The consequences of this budget for North Carolina will be especially dire. More than 600,000 people could lose their healthcare coverage. Rural hospitals across the state will shut down. Nursing homes will go bankrupt. People living in rural areas will be forced to drive hours to get care. Waiting times at emergency rooms will skyrocket. Families will be forced to sell their homes to pay for medical expenses they can no longer afford. Ultimately, more North Carolinians will suffer and more will die. And for what? So that the richest Americans can get a tax cut.

“Shame on those who voted to hurt so many in the service of so few. The people of North Carolina will make their voices heard, and Republicans will feel the consequences of their cruelty and greed.”