VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Votes No on GOP Tax Bill after 29-hour Fight

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) released the following statement after House Republicans narrowly passed their H.R. 1 tax bill by one vote after 29 straight hours of debate.  

Watch Rep. Stansbury break down the bill here and here. 

“Today, the GOP showed who they’re really fighting for in passing a shameful package that will strip millions of veterans, working families, and children of access to healthcare and food assistance—in order to provide permanent tax breaks to billionaires.  In so doing, nearly 14 million Americans will lose access to healthcare, 18 million children will lose access to food assistance and school meals, and millions of seniors will be impacted by cuts to Medicare.

“This is not what the American people voted for and the GOP knows it, which is why they tried to sneak this bill through in the dead of night—not once, but twice.  Democrats laid it all on the line to stop this bill and its devastating impacts, filing over 500 amendments and working through the night for 29 straight hours. Meanwhile, the GOP cut side deals and snuck in more last minute kickbacks for their wealthy friends and donors late into the night. But, the American people see what is happening, and this fight is far from over.  We will keep working to defeat this bill as it heads to the Senate using every tool we have.”

H.R. 1 will have wide-ranging and devastating impacts on vulnerable families, the cost of living, and the environment:

• Tax Breaks at the Expense of the Most Vulnerable. Gives massive permanent tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy through permanent income, estate, and corporate tax breaks on the backs of working Americans. With the 10% wealthiest Americans receiving a 2-4% increase in their income under the bill, and the poorest 10% of Americans seeing a net decrease of 2-4% in income. New Mexico families, who are among the lowest income in the country, will be among the hardest hit.

• Healthcare. Will take access to healthcare away from over 13.7 million Americans through cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Affordable Care Act programs. Defunds Planned Parenthood and bans abortion care under private marketplace insurance. Will strip $880 billion from Medicaid and $500 billion from Medicare, decimating the healthcare economy, with potential hospital, healthcare, and nursing facility closures across the country—representing the largest cut in Medicaid and Medicare in American history. With nearly two thirds of New Mexicans receiving healthcare through Medicare and Medicaid, New Mexico families and healthcare providers will be especially impacted.

• Food and Hunger.  Will gut access to food assistance and school meals for 18 million American kids, with potentially devastating impacts to over 3 million seniors, veterans and vulnerable families—representing the largest cut in SNAP programs in American history. With one in five kids in New Mexico experiencing food insecurity and one in five families receiving SNAP benefits, New Mexico will be devastated by these cuts.  

• Education Programs. Guts access to education programs with 4 million students set to lose Pell Grant funding.  With New Mexico students being among the most low-income in the country, they will be particularly impacted by cuts to education assistance programs.

• Corporate Giveaways. Sends billions of dollars in private contracts to defense contractors, private prisons, oil and gas companies, and big tech. With significant national security infrastructure in New Mexico, New Mexico installations are likely to see shift in security priorities. Funds for detention and attacks on due process in the bill could increase private prison contracts in New Mexico to incarcerate immigrant families. Decreases in oil and gas royalty rates in the bill, could reduce state revenues by nearly a half billion dollars a year—defunding key programs.

• Decimates Protections for the Environment.  Guts key provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act and opportunities for the public, Tribal nations, and communities to protect their land and water.  Includes mandatory oil and gas leasing, mining, and logging giveaways on public lands, while gutting billions of dollars in investments in climate, clean energy, and land stewardship. New Mexico is specifically named for mandatory oil and gas lease sales.

• Increases the National Debt and Burdens on States. Is projected to add $3.7 to 5 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years, representing the largest increase in deficit spending in American history. Shifts significant burden to cash-strapped states with billions of dollars in costs for healthcare and food programs pushed to states, while it cuts federal and state revenues through reductions in oil and gas royalties in a giveaway to industry.  

H.R. 1 passed the House of Representatives in a 215 to 214 party line vote, with three Republicans abstaining from voting. The bill will now head to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. 

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