HARRISBURG, PA − July 3, 2025 − Today, US Congress passed President Trump’s domestic policy bill by a vote of 218-214, sending it to his desk for his final signature. It’s estimated that 300,000 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid, and over 143,000 will lose SNAP. Federal analyses have concluded that this bill will represent the largest wealth transfer from the poorest Americans to the wealthiest in the history of the US.
The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus has been sounding the alarm on the disastrous impacts this bill would have on Pennsylvanians since February. Earlier this Spring, Senators Costa and Hughes hosted a roundtable to hear from doctors, hospitals, insurers, workers, and students about the dire consequences that cuts to Medicaid would have on healthcare access in Pennsylvania. The Caucus hosted one press conference on June 2 and another one on June 30 to increase the urgency of stopping Trump’s domestic policy bill.
In response to Congress finally passing Trump’s domestic policy bill, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) releases the following statement:
“We have entered a sad, bleak new chapter in American history, and I am extremely disappointed and very concerned. No Senator or Representative who voted to take care from our elders, hospitals from our communities, and food from our tables should never know peace – may shame and guilt follow them all the days of their lives. This is not the America I have ever known.
“My faith tells me that our most sacred duty is to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and help those in need. In my years of political service, I have never witnessed such cowardice and destruction rendered with such glee.
I am really worried the families who will now have to live – or die – by the consequences of these leaders’ greed. This is a shameful, shameful day. The road ahead will likely be long and painful, but our caucus is in this fight for care and food to the bitter end.”
As budget negotiations continue for the 2025-26 fiscal year, Senate Democrats have been clear that Pennsylvania does not have the financial resources to backfill lost federal funds, leading to potential closures of hospitals and reduced care for Pennsylvania’s seniors and disabled residents. Governor Shapiro has indicated that Pennsylvania may no longer be able to keep the SNAP program running, given how Trump’s domestic policy bill rewrites the funding formula. Yesterday, Feeding Pennsylvania further clarified that the charitable food network “will be unable to keep up with the rising need.”
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