Congressman Tom Kean Jr. Returns to Congress After Getting the Health Care He Voted to Cut For New Jersey Families

Washington D.C — Today, Congressman Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07) returned to the House floor and publicly discussed his struggle with depression after nearly four months away from Congress. 

While we are glad Congressman Kean Jr. was able to access the care he needed, he has voted for policies that threaten health care for millions of Americans, including his own constituents. Last year, Kean voted to strip Medicaid — the nation’s largest provider of mental health services in the country — away from 240,000 New Jerseyans. This made it harder for families, seniors, children, and people with disabilities to get care when they need it the most.

As policy experts have noted, “Changes in policy that reduce access to Medicaid, restrict eligibility, or cut funding could undermine people’s ability to get the mental health and substance use care they need.” Medicaid cuts are also set to add even more pressure on already struggling mental health units at hospitals across the country, with over 100 of them having shuttered in recent years.

“I have a lot of sympathy for anyone taking almost four months of paid time off to deal with their mental health, including my Congressman,” said Theresa, a New Jersey mother of two who relies on Medicaid. “However, Congressman Tom Kean Jr. supported the Republican Tax Law which has sent my own mental health into a tailspin. I’ve spent the past four months wondering if my kids will be allowed to finish high school or live at home in the future due to the cost of their therapy. Meanwhile, Congressman Kean Jr. has had the luxury of taxpayer-funded treatment. The hypocrisy is infuriating.”

“Congressman Kean Jr. deserved the opportunity to receive treatment for his illness. Every New Jerseyan deserves to live a full, healthy life as well,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “But Kean Jr. has voted for policies that would make it harder for millions of families to access health care. He supported cuts to Medicaid that take away health care, including mental health care, from 240,000 New Jerseyans. That’s not leadership — it’s hypocrisy. Now that he’s returned to Congress, he should reverse course and work to ensure every New Jerseyan has the same opportunity he received to get the care they need.” 

To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com

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About Unrig Our Economy

Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.