Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," which had already been approved by the U.S. Senate on June 30. The legislation extends the 2017 tax cuts and introduces new ones while cutting nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and reducing other government aid programs.
In response to this development, NJPP issued a statement expressing concern over the impact on New Jersey families. They stated, "This harmful and irresponsible bill threatens New Jersey families by cutting funding for essential programs like health care, food assistance, and housing — programs that hundreds of thousands of residents rely on to stay healthy, fed, and housed."
The statement highlighted potential consequences for healthcare in New Jersey: "The health care cuts alone will devastate New Jersey families. Hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans will either lose their health insurance or face much higher coverage costs." It was noted that approximately 227,000 residents could lose Medicaid coverage due to increased administrative hurdles, while another 454,000 might face higher premiums through GetCovered NJ.
Food assistance programs are also expected to suffer significant reductions. According to NJPP's statement: "Over 800,000 residents receive food assistance through SNAP, and about 712,000 children rely on the national school lunch program." The reduction in support is anticipated to increase food insecurity and place additional strain on schools and community organizations.
Housing costs remain a critical issue in New Jersey as well. The statement pointed out that "51 percent of New Jersey renters spend over 30 percent of their income on rent," warning that cuts in federal housing assistance could exacerbate the housing crisis in the state.
NJPP emphasized the broader implications: "Every dollar cut by Congress creates a deeper hole in New Jersey’s already woefully weak safety net and a bigger bill for the state to cover." They also criticized the distribution of tax benefits under the bill: "The top 5 percent of earners in New Jersey...will receive 33 percent of all tax cuts...But the bottom 20 percent will receive just 1 percent."
The organization urged local lawmakers not to follow Washington's example but instead protect vital services by raising revenue fairly.
