Rep. McBride Second to Sign Discharge Petition to Force Vote on the Protecting Medicaid and SNAP Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) became the second House Democrat to sign a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote on the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act - legislation that would block any cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs under the House Republican budget plan.

"I just got off the floor of the House, where I became the second Democrat to sign the discharge petition for the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act," said Rep. McBride."This is legislation that would protect Medicaid and SNAP from efforts by Republicans here in Congress to cut them."

House Republicans have already twice voted in favor of budget instructions that would slash Medicaid and food assistance by over $1 trillion, jeopardizing health care and food assistance for millions of Americans.

"House Republicans have said they're not going to cut Medicaid and SNAP," McBride said. "So if they're serious-if they're really not going to cut health care for 1 in 2 kids in America, 1 in 5 Americans-then why don't they go sign this discharge petition?"

The Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act, led by Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan Boyle, would protect families by prohibiting Republicans from weaponizing the reconciliation process to cut benefits or remove individuals from Medicaid and SNAP.

A discharge petition allows members of Congress to bypass House Majority leadership and bring legislation directly to the floor if 218 members sign on.

"This bill has been bottled up by House Republicans," McBride added. "But if they mean what they say-if they're not going to touch health care for Americans across this country-then they should go sign this discharge petition and put their money where their mouth is."

In Delaware alone, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would impact:

• Over 249,000Delawareans covered by Medicaid
• Nearly 1 in 2 Delaware kidscovered by Medicaid
• 11% of Delawareans who rely on SNAPto afford groceries

Rep. McBride has made defending Medicaid one of her top prioritiesin Congress - uplifting the stories of Delawareans who rely on it for cancer treatment, disability support, mental health care, and home-based care for seniors.

"These are programs that keep our communities healthy, safe, and fed," said McBride. "They are not bargaining chips. I'll keep fighting to protect them from political games and broken promises."

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