Today, Congress passed a bill that strips nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid over the next ten years while delivering enormous tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and powerful corporations. This legislation puts health care further out of reach for tens of thousands of Cook County residents, including working families, seniors, people with disabilities and communities already facing the greatest barriers to care.

Nationally, experts estimate that as many as 12 million people could lose their Medicaid coverage if this bill becomes law. Here in Cook County, we estimate our health system stands to lose at least $88 million each year in Medicaid reimbursement as patients lose insurance, threatening critical services and stability for those who rely on them most.

This is a reckless and unjust decision that favors the wealthy over the basic well-being of everyday Americans. I urge our leaders at the federal level to consider the real harm this bill will cause, reverse course and stand up for the fundamental principle that health care should be accessible to all, not just the privileged among us.