211 House Democrats Sign Boyle Discharge Petition to Block Medicaid and SNAP Cuts

WASHINGTON, DC — As of today, 211 House Democrats have signed a discharge petition introduced by Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, to protect Medicaid and food assistance from devastating cuts. The petition would force a vote on a special rule containing the text of Boyle’s Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act, which blocks any attempt to slash Medicaid and SNAP coverage or benefits through the reconciliation process, protecting millions of Americans from losing their health care under the Republican budget. If 218 Members sign the petition, it triggers a vote on the House floor.

That means just a handful of Republicans now stand between working families and the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history—cuts House Republicans are pushing to pay for massive tax breaks for billionaires. Boyle’s petition remains open for signature by any Member who is serious about protecting the health and economic security of millions of Americans.

"House Democrats have made our position clear: we are united in stopping these cruel cuts to Medicaid and SNAP," said Budget Committee Ranking Member Boyle. "If Republicans are serious about their promises to protect working families’ health care, they’ll sign this petition. Now it comes down to just a few House Republicans. Will they stand with the American people—or with the billionaires pushing this agenda? It’s time to choose."

“President Trump and Republicans promised they wouldn’t cut Medicaid,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Pallone, Jr. “The nonpartisan CBO found their bill will take health care away from millions of Americans and make deep cuts to the program. It’s not too late for moderate Republicans to say enough is enough and uphold their pledge to protect Americans’ health care. We only need a few Republicans to sign the discharge petition to stop these catastrophic health care cuts.”

“The cost of living is squeezing everyone, and working parents need to know that they can afford to feed their children,” said Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Craig. “The Republican proposal to cut food assistance by $300 billion will impose new costs on ordinary Americans when too many are already living just one paycheck away from a disaster. Republicans should keep their word and protect SNAP from these cuts by signing this discharge petition.”

“House Democrats are united in saying: hands off Medicaid and food assistance,” said Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Casar. “Now every single House Republican has to decide for himself and herself whether to continue going along with the plan to take food and health care from millions to pay for billionaire tax cuts.”

“House Republicans are secretly gathering under the cover of darkness to push through draconian cuts to Medicaid, slash programs that keep children from going hungry, and explode our nation’s debt,” said New Democrat Coalition Chair Schneider. “Why work in the shadows in the wee hours of the morning? To hide the truth about their shakedown of hard-working American families, taking healthcare away from 14 million people, ending school lunch programs for millions of kids, and running up $5 trillion ($5,000,000,000,000) in additional debt. This is no ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ — it’s one awful deal. If my GOP colleagues want to stand with and support working families, they’ll sign our discharge petition and protect Americans’ access to food and health care.”

“The GOP’s budget plan proposes taking health care away from millions of hard-working American taxpayers and food away from hungry seniors—here in Orange County, and across the country,” said Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chair for Policy Correa. “I encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to sign this discharge petition to ensure that tens of millions of their constituents and ours continue to receive the health care and food assistance they need and deserve.

The Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act is led in the House by Representatives Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee; Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee; Angie Craig (MN-02), Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee; Greg Casar (TX-35), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; Brad Schneider (IL-10), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition; and Lou Correa (CA-46), Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chair for Policy and Legislative Strategy.

More information about the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act is available here.

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