ANCOR Issues Statement on Markup of House Energy & Commerce Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee’s markup of its budget legislation, ANCOR released the following statement:

“We are deeply alarmed that such sweeping cuts to Medicaid are included in the legislation that passed [the House Energy & Commerce] committee today,” said Barbara Merrill, chief executive officer at ANCOR. “These cuts, even if not specifically directed at community-based disability services, will squeeze a system already in crisis, harming people with disabilities and the workers supporting them. Despite the insistence by many members of Congress that they don’t want to cut benefits for people with disabilities, drastic funding cuts of any kind will reverberate across states, thereby endangering community-based disability services—the kinds of services that are often first to go when states experience funding shortfalls.

“Rather than forcing through legislative proposals that would make deep cuts to Medicaid and placing at risk services that support people with disabilities to live full, independent lives, Congress should instead focus on investing in the Medicaid program and ensuring these services remain sustainable and accessible in our communities,” Merrill continued. “We urge members of Congress to reject this legislation when it is up for a vote on the House floor.”

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