Sewell, Figures oppose GOP-backed budget that could cut Medicaid, SNAP, and school lunches for hundreds of thousands
SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
In a razor-thin vote Thursday morning, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill” by a margin of just one vote: 215–214. The sweeping budget proposal, which delivers an estimated $4 trillion in tax cuts largely favoring high-income earners, is now headed to the Senate—but not without fierce backlash from Alabama’s Democratic lawmakers.
Representatives Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures, the state’s only two Democrats in Congress, voted against the bill and blasted it for what they called “the largest proposed cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance in American history.”
Sewell: “We’re Kicking People Off Healthcare at 4:35 A.M.”
In impassioned remarks delivered during the early morning hours on the House floor, Rep. Sewell (AL-07) lambasted the timing and content of the bill.
“We could be working to help Americans deal with the high cost of living. We could be working to make sure that healthcare is affordable for all. But what are we doing at 4:35 a.m.? We’re preparing to vote on a bill that will provide a $4 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthy, well-connected and well-off,” she said.
Sewell emphasized that the bill would pay for those tax breaks by cutting $700 billion from Medicaid and $300 billion from SNAP, citing figures from a new district-level impact report.
According to her office, the cuts threaten the healthcare of 176,181 residents in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District—including 121,745 children and 23,000 seniors.
ACA Marketplace Premiums Expected to Spike
The legislation also includes provisions that make it harder and more expensive to obtain insurance via the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. In AL-07, approximately 17,700 residents could lose coverage outright, while another 55,000 individuals would see their average annual premiums increase by $510—a 66% spike.
“These drastic cuts represent an outrageous betrayal of our values as Americans,” Sewell said. “Alabama families shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for Trump’s billionaire tax cuts. I voted NO.”
Figures: “One in Four Will Lose Benefits”
Rep. Shomari Figures (AL-02) did not speak during floor debate but has repeatedly warned of the bill’s local consequences.
“One in four people in my district receive SNAP benefits. One in four people in my district receive Medicaid benefits. These are people who can’t afford to lose healthcare access,” Figures said previously. “The truth is people will lose those benefits, all in an effort to make long money longer.”
SNAP, School Meals Slashed
The bill’s proposed SNAP reductions could have catastrophic implications in the Black Belt and other low-income communities. According to Sewell, 197,000 people in her district rely on SNAP benefits, which are now in jeopardy.
Even school meals aren’t spared. Cuts to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) could jeopardize free school lunch programs for 100,290 children in the 7th District alone.
“These are not abstract numbers,” Sewell warned. “They’re meals, they’re medicine, they’re lifelines.”
Statewide Impact: Healthcare Crisis Looming
Statewide, the bill’s total impact is projected to be devastating. The nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation estimates the current version would strip health coverage from approximately 170,000 Alabamians, particularly by letting ACA premium subsidies expire and enacting harsh Medicaid work requirements.
If passed by the Senate, the bill would force Alabama to cover nearly $300 million in SNAP costs annually—money the state has not budgeted for. Without it, up to 800,000 residents could see reduced or eliminated food benefits.
Rural hospitals could also be at risk, with $625 billion in federal Medicaid support projected to disappear over the next decade. Compounding that is a projected $490 billion Medicare cut triggered by the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act, potentially starting in 2027.
Alabama Republicans Support the Bill
All of Alabama’s Republican representatives voted in favor. Rep. Dale Strong (AL-05) expressed his support for the legislation, stating:
“This morning, I voted for H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to advance President Trump’s America First Agenda.”
He highlighted that the bill includes significant provisions for the Second Amendment community, such as the Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404), which aims to remove suppressors from the National Firearms Act, thereby easing restrictions on firearm accessories.
Additionally, Strong emphasized the bill’s alignment with conservative priorities, including making the 2017 tax cuts permanent, eliminating federal taxes on tips and overtime pay, and implementing work requirements for Medicaid benefits. He views these measures as steps toward reducing federal spending and promoting self-sufficiency among beneficiaries.
While the bill has faced criticism from Democrats, who argue it disproportionately affects low-income individuals by cutting Medicaid and SNAP benefits, Strong and other Republican supporters contend that the legislation is essential for fiscal responsibility and economic growth.
What Happens Next
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” now moves to the Senate, where even some Republicans are expressing doubt. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have raised concerns over Medicaid cuts and the growing deficit—estimated to increase by $3.3 trillion under the bill.
Former President Trump appeared open to revisions: “I want the Senate and the senators to make the changes they want. Then we’ll go back to the House.”
But for families in Alabama already living paycheck-to-paycheck, that may be too late.
