Medicaid is a lifesaving program and vital in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic, providing health insurance coverage to 41% of Illinoisans living with HIV. It's absolutely unconscionable that Congressional Republicans would choose to pass their "big, beautiful bill" in the dead of night, ripping healthcare and food assistance from the Illinois communities that need it the most in order to enact tax cuts for the ultra wealthy. There is nothing beautiful about leaving our most vulnerable communities behind.
Just after dawn on the morning of Wednesday, May 22, 2025, when most Illinoisans were still asleep, Republicans in the U.S. House voted to kick millions of people off of Medicaid and SNAP. AFC thanks the 14 Illinois Democrats who offered amendments and voted against the reconciliation bill, and for their tireless fight to protect Illinoisans from these cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. At the same time, we are appalled that Representatives Bost (IL-12), Miller (IL-15) and LaHood (IL-16) voted against their constituents and the rest of Illinois by voting in favor of this bill.
To our community members and organizational partners—rest assured that AIDS Foundation Chicago will continue to fight in the U.S. Senate to defeat this disastrous Reconciliation bill that will be devastating to Illinoisans living with and vulnerable to HIV. This fight is far from over and we urge you to join us in action over the coming crucial weeks!
AIDS Foundation Chicago Policy, Advocacy and Communications work is not supported by federal funds.
