Brooklyn, NY – Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke held a Medicaid Day of Action press conference at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn. 

Leader Jeffries: Good morning, everyone. Thank you Dr. Hershberger. Thank you to the Chairman, the entire Interfaith Medical Center team, as well as the One Brooklyn Health team for all of the tremendous work that you do on behalf of the people that Congresswoman Clarke and myself are privileged to represent here in Central Brooklyn. I want to thank George and the SEIU family for all of the incredible advocacy and work that you do. 1199 family, of course, Michelle, to NYSNA as well, to all of the advocates, to the Reverend Dr. Waterman who was here. This is a moment that we need prayer and leadership from the clergy as well.

Republicans have proposed the largest Medicaid cut in American history. It will devastate children, families, people with disabilities, older Americans, women and everyday Americans in this community, in the city of New York, and across the country.

Why have they proposed the largest Medicaid cut in American history? It’s because they want to pass massive tax breaks for billionaire donors like Elon Musk and wealthy corporations. It’s unacceptable, it’s unconscionable, it’s un-American and together, we’re going to do everything we have to do to stop these cuts from ever taking effect.

We’re going to hear from a variety of different individuals who will personally be affected by these cuts and will have the people that they care for be impacted and hurt by this Medicaid cut that has been proposed.

All across the country, we’re having a Medicaid Day of Action to save Medicaid, here in New York City, in New York State, blue states and purple states and red states, all across America. Medicaid is health care. And we believe that in the United States of America, health care is not simply a right, it is a privilege that should—not simply a privilege, it is a right. Making sure y’all are paying attention. Medicaid is health care. It’s health care for the people in this community, in this city, in this country. And it is not simply a privilege to have health care in the United States of America. It is a right. And we’re gonna fight to make sure that that right is alive and well and save Medicaid in the United States of America.

It’s now my honor to introduce my sister who represents the neighboring congressional district. We’re in the 8th congressional district right now, in Bedford-Stuyvesant and the Interfaith Medical Center is such an important part of health care in this community for the Bedford-Stuyvesant people that I represent, but also for the people of Central Brooklyn, that Yvette Clarke represents right across the street in Crown Heights in the 9th Congressional District. She’s also the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

Full press conference can be watched here.

###