Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement following the North Carolina General Assembly’s passage of the state budget, which includes provisions to finally implement Medicaid expansion.

“North Carolina Republicans put lives at risk by playing politics and delaying Medicaid expansion – not just for months, but for a full decade. Finally, after more than ten years of waiting, 600,000 North Carolinians will have access to the health care they need because Republicans have finally done the right thing. A decade ago, I fought for Medicaid expansion in the General Assembly, and it is reprehensible that North Carolinians were forced to wait this long for life-saving care. Although this budget contains provisions that will hurt our people in many ways, I am grateful that it does, finally, expand Medicaid.”