Editor's note: The House of Representatives approved the resolution late Tuesday by a vote of 217-215.
AAP President Susan J. Kressly, M.D., FAAP, calls upon U.S. lawmakers to reject a budget resolution that would have “devastating consequences for children and families.”
According to reporting by The Hill, the budget resolution that could be voted upon Tuesday by the House of Representatives calls for cuts of $1.5-$2 trillion, including $880 billion in cuts by the Energy and Commerce Committee which oversees Medicaid.
“We oppose the proposed funding cuts to programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — which cover nearly half of all U.S. children — as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” Dr. Kressly said Monday in a news release.
As of October 2024, 37 million children and teens were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, which accounts for 47.4% of all participants in both programs. In 2023, SNAP served an average of 42.1 million Americans a month.
Many children from low-income families and children with disabilities or chronic health conditions depend on Medicaid and CHIP, Dr. Kressly said, and “programs like SNAP work to support families experiencing food insecurity, helping them to put food on the table and supporting children’s lifelong health.
“Protecting these programs invests in the health and well-being of America’s children, which is directly related to our future healthy workforce and economic prosperity,” she said.
The Academy also joined leading national children's organizations in sending a letter Monday to every member of the House of Representatives, urging them to vote against the resolution.
“By reducing vital support for Medicaid and CHIP, you would not just be cutting a budget line – you would be limiting the health prospects of our children, leaving them without the care they need to grow into healthy adults,” the letter reads.
The House bill differs from a competing budget resolution passed last week in the U.S. Senate by a 52-48 vote; that bill includes $1 billion in cuts to Medicaid. If the House passes its bill, the reconciliation process will begin to shape the ultimate budget bill.
