The GOP-led House debated and voted in the dead of night to pass tax breaks for billionaires, kick nearly 14 million Americans off their health insurance

Republicans refused to consider Raskin amendments advocating for federal workers, Medicaid and Trump Tariff transparency

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) released the following statement after House Republicans jammed through a late-night tax heist that will give tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of American families:

“Overnight, Republicans voted to strip health coverage from nearly 14 million Americans with the biggest cut to Medicaid in American history, devastating cuts to the Affordable Care Act and a last-minute $500 billion reduction in Medicare spending,” said Rep. Raskin. “Millions of Americans will lose access to basic food assistance, making life harder for struggling families. Our dedicated federal workers will see their hard-earned retirement benefits slashed. All to fund trillions of dollars in tax cuts to benefit billionaires at the expense of working people. 

“The House GOP may think they can hide this sordid scheme, but the devastating consequences will be theirs to own and for the world to see. Democrats will continue to oppose the all-out class warfare being waged against residents of Maryland’s Eighth Congressional District and people across the nation.” 

On Tuesday, Rep. Raskin introduced 15 amendments ahead of House Republicans’ late-night “Under the Cover of Darkness” tax heist hearing in the House Rules Committee and gave extensive testimony. The amendments advocated for federal workers, fought Trump’s attempts to accept Bribe Force One from Qatar and stood up for families’ access to healthy food. House Republicans didn’t even give these commonsense amendments or others offered by Democrats a vote.

Rep. Raskin’s amendments to the GOP’s tax scheme included the following:

• No Bribe Force One: An amendment to prohibit the use of federal funds to either modify or staff a plane for the purposes of transporting the President of the United States unless Congress authorizes funds for a purpose-built aircraft. This amendment would block President Trump from accepting a luxury jet as a “gift” from the Qatari royal family or any other entity other than the U.S. government. Cosponsored by Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06). 
  
  

• Ensure Truth in Tariffs: An amendment to insert the text of Rep’s Raskin’s Truth in Tariffs Act. Rep. Raskin’s legislation requires large retailers to clearly display the portion of an item’s overall price attributable to the Trump Tariffs.
  
  

• Remove Provisions to Force Federal Workers to Become At-Will Employees: An amendment to strike a provision to convert new federal employees to at-will employment unless they accept a higher FERS contribution rate. Led by Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-8).
   
• Defend Public Health and Progress Towards Cures: An amendment to block Title IV of the bill from taking effect until all U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) workers fired after January 20, 2025, either solely due to their probationary status or as part of a reduction-in-force, are reinstated and allowed to return to their job duties. The Trump Administration has fired critical HHS staff including public health responders, medical device reviewers, and researchers working to find cures for the most serious diseases Americans face such as cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), heart disease, and cystic fibrosis.
  
  

• Protect Public Safety, Family Farms and Small Businesses by Restoring NOAA: An amendment to block Title IV of the bill from taking effect until all National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees fired after January 20, 2025, either solely due to their probationary status or as part of a reduction-in-force, are reinstated and allowed to return to their job duties. The Trump Administration has fired critical NOAA staff, including meteorologists who issue storm warnings and scientists who do critical climate research. 
  
  

• Safeguard SNAP for Hungry Families and Stop Unfunded Mandates: An amendment to block any Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provisions from taking effect that create an unfunded mandate or violate any portion of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. In its current form, the tax bill slashes food assistance for millions of Americans including over $330 million in cuts annually from Marylanders.
  
  

• Halt Medicaid Cuts: An amendment to prevent the tax cuts and other provisions in the Ways and Means title from taking effect if the government cuts Medicaid, Social Security, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Led by Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-3). Rep. Raskin also joined an amendment led by Rep. Morgan McGarvey (KY-3) to prevent the bill’s Medicaid provisions from taking effect until CBO certifies they will not result in reduced coverage or eligibility for children or disabled veterans.
  
  

• Stop Russian Propaganda: An amendment to restore critical work to counter Russian and Chinese disinformation campaigns targeting Americans. Specifically, the amendment would block Title VI of the bill from taking effect until all employees of the State Department’s Countering Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub who were fired after January 20, 2025, either solely due to their probationary status or as part of a reduction-in-force, are reinstated and allowed to return to their job duties.
  
  

• Reinstate the Librarian of Congress (Plus, No More Jobs for Secretary Rubio): An amendment to block Title IX of the bill from taking effect until Dr. Carla Hayden resumes the full duties and responsibilities of the Librarian of Congress and Shira Perlmutter resumes the full duties and responsibilities of the Register of Copyrights. The amendment blocks the entire reconciliation bill from taking effect if Marco Rubio is appointed to the office of either the Librarian of Congress or the Register of Copyrights.
  
  

• Protect Public Education: An amendment to delay enactment of the bill’s private and religious school voucher scheme until all states whose legislatures have voted to endorse the Ten Commandments and post them in public school classrooms require legislators to vote on each Commandment separately (no omnibus packages) and forbid the legislators to vote for any commandment that they themselves have violated. The tax credit that would be delayed by this amendment creates a nearly unprecedented tax credit—doubling as a tax shelter for the ultra-wealthy—designed to fund private and religious K-12 schools.
  
  

• Restore All Staff and Funding at Voice of America: An amendment to block Title IX of the bill from taking effect until all Voice of America (VOA) workers fired after January 20, 2025 solely due to their probationary status or as part of a reduction-in-force are reinstated and allowed to return to their job duties, and all VOA programming and operations are restored. The amendment aims to reverse the Trump Administration's shuttering of VOA, which is a vital component of American diplomacy and soft power.
  
  

• Protect the Freedom to Read and Learn in Department of Defense-run Schools: An amendment to roll back the Trump Administration’s draconian censorship regime in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and U.S. Military Academies. The amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to restore all books, materials, and curriculum from January 20, 2025, and prohibits federal funds from being used to remove materials based on President Trump’s Executive Orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion policies and gender equality protections in DoDEA schools and Military Academies. Cosponsored by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06).
  
  
• Don’t Roll Back Climate Change Progress: An amendment to strike wording to sunset the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit at the end of the calendar year. This tax credit is a key part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s emissions reductions and will ensure the United States is a global leader in clean manufacturing. Cosponsored by Rep. Don Beyer (VA-8).
  
  

• Stop the Attack on Public Service Loan Forgiveness: An amendment to strike a provision that excludes medical and dental professionals from Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility. Led by Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-6).
  
  

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