A resolution urging the protection of Medicare from the devastating cuts caused by H.R. 1.
This Senate resolution, introduced by Senator Whitehouse, urges Congress to protect the Medicare program from the severe cuts that would be triggered by H.R. 1 (the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). The resolution cites CBO estimates that H.R. 1 would add about $4.1 trillion to the deficit from 2025 to 2034 and would trigger sequestration—automatic, across-the-board spending cuts—under the PAYGO rules. It notes that Medicare is not exempt from sequestration and warns that such cuts could undermine benefits for seniors and people with disabilities, harm health care providers and safety-net providers that rely on Medicare payments, and jeopardize coverage for millions of Americans. The resolution calls on the Senate to protect Medicare, safeguard seniors’ benefits and related social services, and shield those who have paid into Medicare throughout their working lives from reckless cuts.
Key Points
- 1The resolution highlights that H.R. 1 would significantly increase the deficit (about $4.1 trillion) and would trigger sequestration under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, leading to automatic, across-the-board cuts.
- 2It asserts that Medicare is not exempt from sequestration and would face cuts under these PAYGO rules.
- 3CBO estimates cited in the resolution project Medicare cuts of about $45 billion in 2026 and a total loss of about $536 billion to Medicare through 2034 due to sequestration.
- 4The combination of Medicare cuts with other reductions tied to H.R. 1 could amount to nearly $1 trillion in health care reductions, potentially stripping coverage from roughly 15 million people.
- 5The resolution calls on the Senate to protect Medicare benefits, safeguard seniors’ essential social services, and ensure that individuals who contributed to Medicare receive protected health care benefits.