Thank you for joining FAN in the fight to protect Medicaid and SNAP!  From sending letters, making calls, and meeting with Congressional Representatives, FAN advocates have been urging Congress to pass a moral budget and preserve these critical federal investments in healthcare and nutrition.

Despite widespread advocacy and public outcry, the House passed a budget resolution on May 22 with devastating cuts to Medicaid (over $700 Billion) and SNAP (nearly $300 Billion), including cruel provisions to strip refugees and other lawfully present immigrants from accessing federal aid.[1] These massive federal divestments are being used to fund tax cuts that will disproportionately benefit the wealthy,[2] rapidly escalate the detention and deportation of our immigrant neighbors,[3] and add nearly $4 trillion to the national debt. If these cuts go into effect, an estimated 200,000 Washingtonians would lose their health care coverage at the end of 2026, and Washington state would need to cover $300 million annually to maintain SNAP.[4]This bill threatens the well-being of millions of people who deserve dignity and rights, and who are valued members of our communities.

During this tumultuous time, FAN has been grateful for the leadership of our Washington Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, who have been publicly raising concerns about the drastic cuts to Medicaid[5] and SNAP in the House’s budget reconciliation bill. This spring, our Senators have been convening leaders, organizations and impacted community members from across Washington to sound the alarm,[6] and we want to thank them for their efforts.

The Senate is now taking up the House’s budget reconciliation bill and making its own changes. Only four Republican Senators need to vote “no” in order for the bill to die, and several have expressed reservations for a variety of reasons. During this time of negotiations, we want to thank Senators Murray and Cantwell for all they have done and urge them to work across the aisle to prevent this cruel bill from moving forward.

We are not giving up – join us as we raise our voices together and urge our Senators to continue the fight!