Budget Reconciliation: Where things stand and how you can help May 20, 2025

You may have heard of the “Big Beautiful Bill” making its way through Congress right now, but for our climate and health, this bill is anything but. With a House floor vote on budget reconciliation expected as early as this week, we must work to stop this bill in its tracks.

House Republicans have proposed the repeal of six tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act that are critical to making progress on climate change. Utilization of these credits has made switching to clean energy and electric vehicles feasible for millions of Americans since they were enacted. By curbing pollutants associated with fossil fuels, they indirectly improved air quality and health across the country. The bill also proposes repealing sections of the Clean Air Act related to Environmental Justice Block Grants and Methane Emissions Reduction Grants while expediting permitting for methane gas pipelines. 

Aside from the many environmental attacks in the current reconciliation bill, healthcare is also a significant target. Over $715 billion is proposed to be cut from Medicaid as our Representatives negotiate revoking healthcare access from over 13 million people. These cuts target the most vulnerable people in our society and will only escalate health inequities.

All these cuts come at the same time as increases in spending on nuclear arsenals and the Department of Defense. $1.5 Billion alone is dedicated to the new Sentinel missile program with an additional $8 billion to other nuclear weapons systems. There is no justification for spending this amount on immoral weapons which can never be used. 

So what can you do? Today, May 20 has been deemed a National Day of Action as thousands of citizens across the country call their Representatives and urge them to vote NO on this dangerous reconciliation bill. Find your Representative and their phone number here. Our partners at the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) have developed customizable scripts to use when you make your call to make the process seamless! If you want to take this action a step further, join CAC for a phonebank tonight at 7:00 PM ET where you can reach out to constituents of the most important targets for this vote.

In addition, PSR is partnering with the Protect Our Health Care Coalition to send text messages to voters in key congressional districts, urging them to speak out against proposed Medicaid cuts. 

Things are moving quickly in this process, with the next step in Committee happening early tomorrow morning, Wednesday, May 21 at 1:00 AM ET. Your Representative needs to hear from you and your fellow health professionals ASAP, so please share this action with your network. Keep an eye out for further updates and opportunities for rapid response in the coming days!