Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz Votes NO on Final Version of the Extreme Republican “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Citing Deep Medicaid Cuts, Harm to Families, and Ballooning Deficit

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) today reaffirmed his opposition to the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” voting NO on the final version passed out of the Senate and returning to the House for approval. Congressman Ruiz previously voted NO on the original House version, citing many of the same concerns.

"I voted no on this big ugly bill because it would devastate our local communities. It would take health care away from 17 million Americans and cause 20% of rural hospitals to close, including potentially four in our district. That means fewer doctors, longer drives in an emergency, and more lives at risk. It guts clean energy investments, putting local jobs in jeopardy and raising energy costs for working families. It also cuts food assistance, taking food from the mouths of millions of hungry children, veterans, and seniors. Despite these drastic cuts, this bill raises the national debt by $5 trillion in order to give billions in tax cuts to billionaires. This is disgraceful. We should not be prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires over the needs of hardworking families."

Background:

Massive Cuts to Medicaid and Hospital Funding

• The bill slashes $1 Trillion from Medicaid
• This bill will cut $150 million in Medicaid payments for rural hospitals and an additional $240 billion through provider tax caps, crippling rural hospitals.
• An estimated 383 rural hospitals will close. In Ruiz’s district, El Centro Regional Medical Center, Pioneers Memorial, Colorado River Medical Center, and Palo Verde hospitals have already warned they are at risk.
• 17 million Americans will lose health insurance, increasing uncompensated care and raising costs for everyone else.

Skyrocketing Costs for Families

• The bill raises utility bills by an average of $400 per year, and up to $678 in California by undermining clean energy efforts.

Attacks on Food Assistance for Vulnerable Families:
The final bill includes expanded work requirements for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which could result in millions of Americans, including children and seniors, losing access to food assistance.

Slashes funding for Pell Grants and Cuts Access to Parent Plus Loans 

• Making college less affordable for low-income and working-class students striving for a better future.

Exploding the Deficit While Giving Billionaires a Handout

• Adds $3 to $5 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade.
• Prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires over basic care for everyday Americans.

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