All 19 New York Democrats within the U.S. Home united Wednesday in demanding a gathering with Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., warning a latest try to chop $11 billion in public well being grants is endangering their constituents.
In a letter to Kennedy, shared first with Spectrum Information NY1, the lawmakers stated New York may lose roughly $400 million in well being funding if the Trump administration’s effort to rescind funding succeeds.
“These funds are used to observe infectious illness outbreaks, present psychological well being and substance use dysfunction therapy, and guarantee entry to different important well being providers that New Yorkers depend on,” the lawmakers wrote. “Each single one in every of our constituents will probably be impacted by these actions.”
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler co-led the letter, which was co-signed by all different New York Home Democrats, together with Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries.
Already, roughly 200 public well being staff are being laid off by the New York State Division of Well being on account of the funding to cuts, together with 50 full time workers and 168 public well being fellows, in response to the letter. Funding for 200 community-based organizations that present well being providers can also be in peril, the lawmakers warned.
“The administration is trying to maneuver ahead with these cuts, whatever the dangers it creates for the well being and security of all People,” they wrote.
The lawmakers gave Kennedy a deadline of April 22 to meet their request for a gathering.
Final week, New York Lawyer Basic Letitia James joined her Democratic counterparts from different states in suing the Trump administration over the $11 billion reduce. Days later, a federal judge temporarily blocked HHS from rescinding the grants.
