Today in Washington, D.C., the House passed a huge budget bill that includes deep cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid. However, according to a recent report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this bill will also trigger about $500 billion in automatic cuts to Medicare.

Regardless of your political affiliation or beliefs, if you or people you care about are among the millions of Americans who rely on SNAP, Medicaid or Medicare, this should be a wake up call. And while we remain nonpartisan, we are alarmed on behalf of our senior community. These cuts will be devastating for America's senior population.

Senior Services for South Sound relies on federal funding for about 50% of our annual budget. While we have been told that our funding is secure through 2025, the budget bill passed by the House could significantly affect our ability to serve our senior population in the years ahead.

What can you do?

Now that the House has passed the bill, it goes to the Senate. We encourage seniors who wish to have a voice to contact their Senators as well as Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

1. Call Senator Patty Murray: (202) 224-2621 or email her HERE.
2. Call Senator Maria Cantwell: (202) 224-3441 or email her HERE.
3. Call Senate Majority Leader John Thune: (202) 224-2321 or email him HERE.

Here is language provided by Meals on Wheels America that you can use:

I strongly implore Congress to vote “no” on H.R 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would make detrimental cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Meals on Wheels programs across the country are calling on Congress to prioritize older Americans and protect the vital programs they rely on. If these programs are cut or restricted, it will increase the demand for Meals on Wheels programs already struggling to meet the current need from seniors who are at significant risk of hunger and isolation.  

This bill would add just under $4 trillion to the national deficit, triggering sequestration, which would eliminate the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program until 2034.

Nearly 13 million older Americans experience or are threatened by hunger, and over 6 million seniors currently rely on SNAP benefits for their next meal. If there are any cuts to SNAP, the already high need for meal services will only increase and more seniors will go hungry.  

The proposed cuts to Medicaid would also be devastating. This bill would ultimately put older adults and people with disabilities at risk of losing coverage for vital home and community-based services (HCBS) like Meals on Wheels, which can be covered by the Medicaid Meal Waiver.  

99% of Meals on Wheels providers report challenges to serving all seniors in need and cutting other supportive services like SNAP and Medicaid will only cause demand to skyrocket. We need Congress to protect and strengthen these proven and effective programs by voting “no” on this budget reconciliation bill and protecting this vital lifeline for America’s seniors.  

Thank you for your time and consideration of this critical request to help ensure that no senior in our community is forgotten.

Thank you, as always, for your support and your belief in our mission to improve the quality of life for people as they age!

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