ARLINGTON, N.Y. – AFSCME members in New York thanked pro-worker U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan this week for opposing the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill Act.” The bill, which became law last summer, will have disastrous consequences for working families.
On Tuesday, public service and health care workers who are members of various labor unions in the Hudson Valley area met with Ryan to thank him for standing with working people.
They also discussed the need to lower health care costs for working families. Extending the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and restoring funding for “Disproportionate Share Hospitals,” which serve large numbers of low-income patients, would help meet the goal.
“We need our elected officials to protect public services and lower health care costs for working families,” said Jeannine Guerra, an assistant social welfare manager for Dutchess County, and a member of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000. “If Congress doesn’t act, millions of people will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket and lose access to health care.”
Another CSEA member, Joanne Sinagra, said the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” will have its worst impact on vulnerable populations.
“These cuts are endangering lives and we will remember who voted to gut public services and health care and hold them accountable,” said Sinagra, a social welfare manager for Dutchess County.
Ryan called the new law “MAGA’s big, ugly betrayal” and described it as “the biggest job-killing legislation in the history of this country.” He added that it’s “ripping health care and food assistance from millions and closing hospitals, all for billionaire tax cuts.”
“I’ll always stand with labor and I vow to fight these harms wherever we see them arise in our community,” Ryan said.
AFSCME members across the country have led the fight to oppose President Donald Trump’s big, ugly bill. We’re holding accountable those who betrayed our communities to give tax cuts to billionaires. We’re also thanking the legislators who stood with working families.
The new law will leave tens of millions of people in our country without health insurance. It will cause health care premiums to increase, even for those with private insurance. And it will enact drastic cuts to Medicare and food assistance. More information is available here.
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