(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Burlington), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, issued the following statement on the signing of the federal GOP Spending Bill:

“On the eve of Independence Day, the ironically-named ’Big Beautiful Bill’ was passed and then signed into law on July 4th, with celebration by the Republicans. However, rather than a step forward, this legislation poses serious harm to our country and, more specifically, to the people of New Jersey.

“In New Jersey, an estimated 1.8 million individuals are enrolled in Medicaid through NJ FamilyCare. Under the federal Republicans’ bill, approximately 350,000 New Jerseyans could lose access to their health coverage, directly affecting our most vulnerable residents – seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families who rely on consistent access to physicians, medications, long-term care, and who need these critical services. This is a big step in the wrong direction.

“Thanks to Republicans in Washington, rural communities across the state will face particular hardships, as many health services in those areas already operate with limited resources. As spending gets reduced in response to federal mandates, programs not required by federal law, including home- and community-based health services, will likely be the first to face elimination.

“This bill is a significant setback for public health in New Jersey. Instead of creating more paths to better health, it builds roadblocks that will have very real consequences on millions of Americans who voted for and deserve a healthier future.”