Amo Calls Out Harmful GOP Budget Priorities, Advocates for Federal Programs that Support Rhode Island Seniors

BARRINGTON, RI – Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01), a member of the House Committee on the Budget, visited Barrington Peck Center for Adult Enrichment where he spoke about his support for critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Despite President Trump’s claims that these programs would not be touched, the budget resolution passed by House Republicans on February 13, 2025, is a simple math exercise that contradicts him. The budget resolution would open to door to at least $4.5 trillion in tax cuts primarily for the wealthy and corporations, paid for by cutting critical programs that keep families healthy like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and Medicare. Chairman Jodey Arrington’s list of programs on the chopping block included cutting Medicaid by more than $2 trillion, lowering federal assistance for low-income adults, and other harmful policies.

“What I saw last week as a member of the House Budget Committee was a plan put forward to cut taxes at the expense of key programs,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Republicans passed a budget resolution that would require deep cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. They’re pushing to cut Medicare payments by hundreds of billions of dollars for doctors and hospitals serving those most in need. These are not scare tactics or hyperbole — these are facts. The cuts would harm more than 200,000 Rhode Islanders who rely on Medicare and Medicaid for their health care. I will continue to sound the alarm about what the Republican Rip-off seeks to do for children, seniors, and adults with disabilities in the Ocean State.” 

“We thank Congressman Amo for visiting the Peck Center and being available to answer a host of questions from concerned citizens,” said Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey. “It was great to see so many people take the opportunity to engage in a very lively discussion of issues of local, state and national importance.”

BACKGROUND 

During the House Budget Committee markup on February 13, 2025, Congressman Amo proposed an amendment that would protect and extend Medicare’s solvency by closing tax loopholes and requiring wealthy taxpayers to contribute more to Medicare. Congressman Amo also joined all Democrats on the committee in supporting amendments to protect Medicaid from possible draconian cuts to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations.

On February 18, 2025, Congressman Amo visited East Bay Dental Center, a community health center administered by East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP), that delivers services to Rhode Islanders on Aquidneck Island. During the visit and tour, he spoke with staff about the downstream impacts of Medicaid cuts and how they would affect the services that East Bay Community Action Program provides for children, adults, and seniors in Rhode Island. In their budget proposal passed last week, Republicans opened the door to $880 billion in Medicaid funding cuts nationwide.

Rhode Island received $2.17 billion in Medicaid funding in 2023 — accounting for 41% of all federal funding delivered to the Ocean State. This funding helps provide health care coverage for more than 237,000 residents, or 22.6% of all Rhode Islanders. Similarly, over 241,000 seniors and people with disabilities in Rhode Island rely on Medicare to stay healthy and independent. Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare funding could reduce the quality of services for Rhode Islanders who rely on services at the Barrington Peck Center.

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