Washington, DC–July 1, 2025–Young, Gifted & Green (YGG) expresses its profound disappointment and strong condemnation of the Senate’s recent passage of the budget reconciliation bill. We believe this legislation poses a significant threat to public health, environmental justice, and the well-being of our communities, particularly impacting maternal and children’s health.

This budget reconciliation bill, if enacted, will have far-reaching and detrimental consequences:

1. Drastic Cuts to Healthcare Access: The bill slashes funding for vital healthcare programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the Senate bill would cut gross federal Medicaid and CHIP spending by $1.02 trillion over the next ten years. These cuts are even harsher than those proposed in the House-passed bill. These cuts will disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, exacerbating existing health disparities. An estimated 11.8 million people could lose health insurance coverage by 2034 as a result.
2. Increased Uninsured Rates: By reducing funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and implementing stricter eligibility requirements, the bill will increase the number of uninsured individuals and families. This will lead to reduced access to essential healthcare services, preventive care, and necessary medications.
3. Threats to Maternal and Children’s Health: Medicaid covers more than 40% of births in the U.S.. Cuts to Medicaid and CHIP will jeopardize access to prenatal care, maternal health services, and postpartum care, leading to adverse health outcomes for both mothers and children. The bill also includes provisions that would restrict access to reproductive healthcare services, further endangering women’s health.
4. Environmental Rollbacks and Increased Pollution: The bill guts clean energy tax credits, repeals crucial climate programs, and threatens public lands. These rollbacks will lead to increased air and water pollution, disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income communities that already bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards. Children are especially vulnerable to pollutants, leading to higher instances of asthma, lead poisoning, and other health issues.
5. Weakened Environmental Protections: The bill includes provisions that would allow polluters to avoid responsibility for the impacts of pollution they create. It also weakens environmental review processes, making it easier for polluting industries to operate with impunity.
6. Harm to Food Security: Proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will threaten food security for millions of families, especially those with children. These cuts will make it harder for families to afford healthy food, leading to malnutrition and related health problems.

This bill is a direct assault on the health and well-being of our communities. It prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations at the expense of essential programs that support the health and environment of our most vulnerable populations. We cannot stand by while our communities are poisoned and our children’s futures are put at risk. –LaTricea D. Adams, Founder CEO & President | Young, Gifted & Green

YGG calls on the House of Representatives to reject this harmful legislation and instead prioritize policies that promote public health, environmental justice, and the well-being of all communities. We urge everyone to contact their representatives and demand that they oppose this bill.

About Young, Gifted & Green:

Young, Gifted & Green is a civil rights and environmental justice organization with a mission to empower communities to take action and advocate against the crisis of lead exposure and environmental injustice in disadvantaged communities.

Sources:

• American Hospital Association: Senate passes One Big Beautiful Bill Act 
• Congressional Budget Office Confirms Senate Republican Reconciliation Bill’s Medicaid Cuts Are More Draconian than the House-Passed Bill
• U.S. Senate-passed Budget Reconciliation Bill Will Destabilize Health Care, Communities
• American Medical Association: Senate budget-reconciliation bill risks worsening access to care
• National WIC Association: U.S. House Passes Budget Reconciliation Bill with Drastic Cuts to Health and Nutrition Programs for Families
• National Partnership for Women & Families: The House Reconciliation Bill Threatens Women’s Health Care At All Stages of Life
• First Focus Campaign for Children: How the House-Passed Budget Reconciliation Bill Would Negatively Impact Children
• Center on Budget & Policy Priorities: Cuts to Climate, Energy Funding in House Bill Would Mean Higher Costs, Fewer Jobs, Poorer Health