CAPAC Statement on House Passage of Republican Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 5371 - Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026:
“Today, House Republicans rammed through a partisan funding bill that continues to worsen the health care crisis they single-handedly created.
“Let’s not forget how we got here. President Trump and Congressional Republicans passed the largest cut to Medicaid in history, which provides health care for 4.5 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs), just to pay for tax cuts for billionaires in their Big Ugly Bill. Now, they want to remove tax credits that help working people afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act — raising premiums for over 1.5 million AANHPIs.
“Democrats put forward an alternative that puts the American people first: a short-term spending bill that would address the manufactured health care crisis, lower costs, and protect Congress’ constitutional power of the purse. But instead of working together on a bipartisan solution, Republicans are once again taking orders from Donald Trump and pushing our nation to the brink of a shutdown.
“Democrats are ready — and have been for weeks — to negotiate a bipartisan government funding bill that lowers the cost of living, prioritizes working people, and protects Americans’ health care. Republicans need to stop playing political games. They created this health care crisis and they must come to the table to prevent a government shutdown and meet the urgent needs of the American people.
BACKGROUND:
President Trump and House Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid in history — kicking 15 million people off their healthcare and triggering $536 billion in cuts to Medicare, all to give over $5 trillion in tax cuts to the wealthiest in America. The law also raises premiums, co-pays and deductibles for tens of millions of Americans, forces hospitals and community health centers across the nation to close, and shuts off funding for medical research — including for kids with cancer.
The Democrat funding proposal permanently extends enhanced tax credits that lower monthly health insurance premiums for millions of American families. Over 1.5 million AANHPIs receive health care through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. If Republicans refuse to act, premiums will skyrocket by 93% next year for the over 20 million Americans who rely on the tax credits, and over 4 million Americans will lose health coverage. 156,000 AANHPIs will no longer have access to zero-premium plans.
4.5 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders receive health insurance through Medicaid, including one in five Asian Americans and one in three NHPIs. 80% of AANHPIs live in the 39 Medicaid expansion states and the District of Columbia.
56% of AANHPI adults said that health care costs are the most difficult item to afford. AANHPIs oppose tax breaks if they come at the cost of cutting health care benefits such as Medicaid or ACA Marketplace tax credits.
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