SACRAMENTO, CA—The California Legislative Black Caucus strongly condemns the tax bill passed by Congressional Republicans—a bill that prioritizes the wealth of the few over the wellbeing of millions, and one that will cause disproportionate harm to Black communities across California and the nation.
This legislation slashes $700 billion from Medicaid and $300 billion from critical nutrition assistance programs like SNAP. These cuts are not abstract numbers—they represent real lives and real losses. In California, the proposed $30 billion cut to Medi-Cal would strip health coverage from up to 3.4 million people. For the Black community, which already faces persistent disparities in access to quality healthcare, these cuts are nothing short of a crisis. They threaten maternal health, chronic disease management, mental health services, and care for our elders and children.
The $36 billion in cuts to SNAP benefits will exacerbate food insecurity in our neighborhoods—communities that are already dealing with the compounded effects of economic injustice, environmental racism, and under-resourced public services. Nearly one in four Black households with children relies on SNAP to put food on the table. Gutting this support system is an act of callousness that will reverberate for generations.
This tax bill does not ask the wealthy to pay their fair share. Instead, it rewards billionaires and corporations with massive breaks while asking Black families, working people, seniors, and individuals with disabilities to foot the bill. These priorities are not just misguided—they are immoral.
California will be forced to absorb the consequences of this legislation, straining our budget and forcing devastating cuts to the very services our communities depend on. This is a direct threat to our collective progress, and it undermines the values of equity and opportunity we strive to uphold.
The California Legislative Black Caucus stands united in opposition to this dangerous and unjust bill. We call on every member of the Senate, and especially California’s Senators, to reject this legislation. We urge our communities to speak out, organize, and hold our federal representatives accountable.
Now is the time to raise our voices and demand a future where fairness, dignity, and justice are not reserved for the privileged few, but are a promise kept to every Californian—especially those who have been historically marginalized and systematically excluded.
We will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will fight for what is right.