WASHINGTON, D.C. July 1, 2025– A contentious bill backed by Senate Republicans has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading the charge against its potential impact on millions of Americans. In a post on X late Tuesday, Harris warned that the legislation could strip health care from 17 million people, threaten the closure of rural hospitals, and cut food assistance for three million Americans, including veterans and seniors. She also highlighted a projected $400 annual increase in energy bills for families, all to fund $1 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires.
The bill, which is poised to move to the House for a vote, has drawn sharp rebukes from Democrats. A report released by Sen. Bernie Sanders on June 25, 2025, aligns with Harris’ claims, estimating that 16 million Americans could lose health insurance, doubling the uninsured rate in many states to finance tax breaks for the wealthy. “We cannot allow Republicans to take health care away from 16 million Americans in order to pay for more tax breaks to billionaires,” Sanders stated.
Rural communities face a dire threat, with over 700 hospitals at risk of closure due to insufficient insurance reimbursements, according to ruralhospitals.chqpr.org. Critics argue that the proposed legislation would exacerbate this crisis, leaving vast regions without critical medical services.
The impact extends beyond health care. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported on June 9, 2025, that the House Republican budget plan could slash food assistance by $219 a month for 56,000 veteran families, a move that could push many into food insecurity. Harris urged the public to act, providing the congressional switchboard number (202-224-3121) to call representatives and demand a “no” vote before the bill passes.
Meanwhile, the debate ties back to the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which FactCheck.org reviewed on April 1, 2025. Extending these cuts would benefit all income groups on average, the analysis found, but some taxpayers would see no relief, fueling accusations that the policy disproportionately favors the rich.
As the clock ticks, the nation watches closely, with Harris and other Democrats rallying to halt what they call a devastating rollback of social safety nets. The outcome in the House remains uncertain, but the stakes could not be higher for America’s working families.