Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted against passage of the budget reconciliation bill, which implements President Trump’s agenda to extend tax cuts to the wealthiest, while slashing Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and student aid for millions of working people. The bill passed the House by a vote of 218-214.
"It's been sickening to see Republicans fast track a bill that's not just bad policy, it's reckless and selfish, and it's a betrayal to our people. This bill would rip lifesaving Medicaid coverage from 17 million Americans, including 150,000 in Hawai‘i, and take food out of the mouths of 42 million people who rely on SNAP to feed their families, including 22,000 right here at home. It guts the income our farmers and grocers depend on to nourish our communities, all while handing billions in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. These aren’t handouts, they’re lifelines. And the cruelest part? Our keiki will be stuck paying off the $5 trillion in debt this bill creates,” said Rep. Jill Tokuda. “To push this through on the eve of our nation’s birthday isn’t just heartless — it’s anti-American. It’s wrong, and Hawai‘i and our country deserves better. While we lost the battle on this bill today, I will never stop fighting against the war Republicans have waged on our people and the safety nets and lifelines that help to lift our families up. From health care to housing, the food on our tables, and the education and jobs that give our people a chance, I will not waiver in my commitment to justice and opportunity to all."
If enacted into law, the "One Big Beautiful Bill" would lead to the largest cuts in health care coverage and nutrition benefits in our nation’s history. Here are some of the impacts to Americans:
- Cuts off healthcare access by removing 17 million children, seniors, and people with disabilities, including over 150,000 Hawaiʻi residents, from their health insurance.
- Increases grocery bills for all 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to afford food, including 22,000 people in Hawai’i, due to a 20 percent cut in benefits.
- Raises household energy costs by more than $110 per year starting in 2026, increasing to over $400 annually by 2035, through the repeal of clean energy tax credits.
- Eliminates 840,000 good-paying jobs in the clean energy sector over the next five years, and another 790,000 over the next 10 years.
- Favors the top 0.1% by cutting their taxes an average of $309,000 a year ($850 a day), while people making under $50,000 will only see a decline of $247 a year (less than $1 a day).
- Adds to the national debt by over $5 trillion over the next decade, driving up debt and interest payments to new record highs and accelerating Social Security and Medicare insolvency to 2032.
Before voting against the bill, Rep. Tokuda proposed several amendments, including the following, to:
- Protect Rural Hospitals: Prevent any provider payment changes from taking effect unless the Dept. of Health and Human Services certifies that the Act would not reduce access to care or lead to rural hospital closures.
- Preserve Food Assistance: Ensure continued support to help states run SNAP more efficiently and effectively for hungry keiki, kupuna, and families.
- Keep Keiki Insured: Prohibit any reduction in eligibility, enrollment, or benefits of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides coverage to low-income keiki.
- Supporting Our Farmers: Prevent cuts to food assistance programs unless the Dept. of Agriculture certifies that it would not cause financial harm to farmers, ranchers, or producers.
- Strengthen the Workforce: Preserve access to federal graduate and professional student loans for aspiring doctors.
The bill now heads to the president’s desk for his signature.
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