Christian Leaders Speak Out on Cassidy-Graham Health Care Bill

Topic:
11 MIN READ

Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World and its partners in the Circle of Protection expressed deep concerns on the Cassidy-Graham health care bill. The legislation is scheduled to be considered in the United States Senate this week. The Circle of Protection is a broad coalition of leaders from all the families of U.S. Christianity who have come together around the biblical mandate to protect poor and vulnerable people.

In June, the Circle released a statement of principles that said, in part:

We favor sensible cost controls that do not deny needed care to low-income Americans.  And we support measures that aim to reduce health care costs.  However, these deep cuts in Medicaid would put at risk the well-being of millions of our fellow Americans—especially the weakest, the oldest, and children most at risk.  We ask our leaders to consider options that do not ask our poorest neighbors to bear most of the weight of budget and health care cuts.

Cassidy-Graham contains billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid. In addition, Christian leaders are concerned that the timing of the bill’s introduction and upcoming vote has not allowed the Congressional Budget Office to analyze its full impact – including the number of people who will lose coverage, the impact on health insurance premiums, and other vital information. 

As Christian leaders in the Circle of Protection, our concern is always how legislation impacts the poor and most vulnerable, and many of our organizations have strongly encouraged our constituencies to contact their Senators on this bill on behalf of the people Christ has asked us to protect.

Quotes from key Circle of Protection leaders follow:

David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World: “Cassidy-Graham is just as bad as the other health care bills that have been rejected. It would end the Medicaid expansion and take health care coverage away from tens of millions of people. Of course, those Americans who have the greatest need for health care coverage – seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children – would be hit hardest by this legislation. People without health insurance must often choose between paying for medicine and the medical care they need, and putting food on the table. Senators should work together on a bipartisan bill that does not take away health insurance from tens of millions of the most vulnerable Americans.”

Jim Wallis, President and Founder, Sojourners: “Jesus tells us that how we treat the most vulnerable in society, including the poor and the sick, is how we treat him. How we treat Christ himself. There are different ways for a nation to organize and manage its health care system. But the moral test and the biblical test of any system is how it treats the poorest and most vulnerable—how a health care system treats those who are sick or most vulnerable in their health. The Graham-Cassidy bill fails that moral test. By slashing funding for the Medicaid program and instituting a so-called “per capita cap” on Medicaid spending, this deeply flawed legislation would result in millions of poor people losing their health care. Children, the elderly, those with disabilities – all would be harmed. These cuts will kill. The Senate should reject Graham-Cassidy and work toward sensible, bipartisan solutions for our nation’s health care system. And people of faith should quickly contact their own senators and express their strong opposition to the bill.”  

Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals: “Despite its impressive achievements, our health care system often fails to deliver affordable, life-saving help to many of our citizens. Reforms are needed, but they should be carefully studied and not rushed through Congress without expert analysis and thorough debate on the inevitable trade-offs inherent in any reform. Above all, any policy and funding changes should be evaluated by how they treat the most vulnerable among us.”

Rev. Noel Castellanos, President, Christian Community Development Association: “As the President of CCDA, representing over 1,000 organizations in poor communities across the nation, I must denounce congress’ desperate attempt to repeal Obama Care for the sake of our neighbors. The Graham-Cassidy Plan is the ultimate example of putting political promises over peoples. It amounts to robbery from the most vulnerable in desperate need of health coverage. Kudos to Senator McCain for rejecting this cold-hearted direction and calling for bi-partisan improvement to our current system so that every American can have adequate health care.”

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “Decisions about the health of our citizens—a concern fundamental to each of us—should not be made in haste simply because an artificial deadline looms. The far-reaching implications of Congress’ actions are too significant for that kind of governance. Instead, the common good should call you to come together in a bi-partisan way to pass thoughtful legislation that addresses the life, conscience, immigrant access, market stability and affordability problems that now exist. Your constituents, especially those with no voice of their own in this process, deserve no less.”

Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Director, Ecumenical Poverty Initiative: “It is dangerous, irresponsible and immoral for the Senate to take up another reiteration of a health care bill that will jeopardize the lives of millions of people. This latest version seems to go further down a destructive path by block granting the Affordable Care Act, leaving it more vulnerable to budget cuts, and putting a per capita cap on Medicaid, which would result in millions of the most vulnerable losing coverage. The insistence to do ‘any old thing’ to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a viable replacement borders on public service malpractice. As Christians, our faith calls us to care for and speak on behalf of the most vulnerable. The Graham-Cassidy bill hurts the elderly, the poor, children and the most vulnerable in our society. In fact, this bill makes all of us more vulnerable and we oppose it in the strongest terms. We encourage all people of faith and conscience to bombard the Senate with calls opposing this legislation and we urge Senators to recommit to a bipartisan solution to fix the Affordable Care Act for the sake of our nation and the most vulnerable among us.”

Commissioner David Hudson, National Commander, The Salvation Army: “As one of America’s largest service providing organizations, The Salvation Army supports initiatives to improve and streamline programs that help our most vulnerable individuals. We support efforts that help reduce government spending, that give states more flexibility, and that make federal funding for Medicaid more predictable.  However, The Salvation Army is concerned that under the Graham-Cassidy healthcare reform proposal, millions of struggling Americans would lose their Medicaid healthcare coverage. The Salvation Army is worried that the current proposal deeply cuts Medicaid funding without considering who would be impacted, eliminates or weakens protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and increases out-of-pocket costs for individual market consumers. This would have a negative impact on the lives and health of the very people we serve.  We believe that any efficiencies made to Medicaid should have a goal of providing the best care to the most vulnerable in our society, not reducing coverage.”

Jo Anne Lyon, Ambassador, General Superintendent Emerita, The Wesleyan Church: Making policy decisions on the basis of partisan politics as opposed to the common good of the people is immoral.    Such as is happening with the Cassidy- Graham bill.  This bill will result in reduction and loss of health care for the vulnerable, elderly, children, disabled as well as newborns struggling for life of which is in direct opposition for those of us who share the beliefs and practices of Pro-Life.  It is imperative that there be much more thought and work on a bi-partisan approach that brings about the common good for all. 

Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, President and CEO, Catholic Charities USA: “While the legislation makes efforts to better protect life and increase flexibility to states, a bill that rolls back gains in health care for the poor and vulnerable is deeply regretful. The Medicaid program is a vital component of the social safety net, which provides access to health care at a lower cost than traditional insurance, funds nearly 50 percent of all births and provides access to life saving care for children, the elderly and the poor. True health care reform should improve the Medicaid program, not limit it.  Pope Francis reminds us that “access to health care services cannot be a privilege.” CCUSA urges you to reject the Graham-Cassidy bill and craft a health care bill which truly expands coverage, reduces costs and respects human life and dignity.” From a public letter posted September 21, 2017.

Board of Trustees, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc.: “With the current administration, it is clear that there is little regard for ‘the least of these.’ That lawmakers would put politics before people, while not surprising, is troubling, and points to their determination to take America ‘back’ to a place where compassion and human rights are reserved for only certain people. In the recent gathering of faith leaders in Geneva, Switzerland of the United Nations’ Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (WGEPAD), our General Secretary, Dr. Iva Carruthers, noted, ‘We live in a society where there is a racialized hierarchy of human value, and African Americans, as well as Hispanics and other non-white people, are at the bottom.’ This bill is no less than a part of a troubling trend to create and enact policies which are going to hurt vast numbers of people, most of whom are black, brown, the very young, the elderly and the poor. Nothing in this bill reveals a love for Christ Jesus; nothing in this bill indicates that we have a federal government which holds precious the dictates of Christianity. What is being proposed is immoral and it is wrong. It is the hope and desire of the Board of Trustees of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. (SDPC) that this bill is defeated and that the work of shaping a health care law that will take care of all of God’s children will begin.”

Diane Randall, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation: “The Cassidy-Graham health care proposal violates the very values that lie at the core of Quaker morals. This bill would threaten the health and dignity of millions of Americans, especially low-income children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Cassidy-Graham includes extreme cuts to Medicaid, undermines critical protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, shifts billions of dollars onto states, and will cause tens of millions of Americans to lose health coverage. Moreover, advancing this legislation will destroy the productive and bipartisan work currently taking place. Rather than trying to force through yet another rushed, ultra-partisan, dysfunctional health care proposal that causes millions of Americans to lose health coverage, Congress should refocus back on the bipartisan negotiations so desperately needed to stabilize the insurance markets and lower health care costs.”

Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Director, Advocacy, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: “God intends wholeness as a blessing for all people. Access to quality and affordable health care is not only a human right but an honoring of the dignity of each person made in the image of God. Cassidy-Graham will affect the health care of almost every American by restructuring and slashing Medicaid, allowing states to opt out of essential health benefits and waive coverage of pre-existing conditions. Instead of this bad bill, we call on our leaders to work together on a bi-partisan improvement of the ACA by expanding access to care, rather than dismantling it in a way that will deprive those most vulnerable, including the elderly, children and those who have a disability. No one should suffer from the lack of health care in a country that can so abundantly afford to ensure it for everyone in our communities.”

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Co-Chair, National African American Clergy Network: “The biblical call to care for the sick is crystal clear – and the Graham-Cassidy bill deeply violates it.  Cutting billions of dollars from Medicaid is misguided and dangerous and would worsen the lives of millions of poor people across the country.  These cuts would disproportionately affect minority populations.  I urge the United States Senate to reject this bill and work in a bipartisan way to improve the health care system in the United States.”

Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary, National Council of Churches: “There is not a single Member of Congress who does not understand that Graham-Cassidy will result in fewer people with health insurance and reduced spending on Medicaid. This bill will create unnecessary hardship for millions of our people. As Christian leaders, we cannot possibly support legislation that will hurt the last, the least, and the lost.” 

Related Resources