This Juneteenth, A Reminder That James, Barrett, And Huizenga's Republican Tax Law Vote Is Failing Black Families

This Juneteenth coincides with nearly one year of the Republican Tax Law, which Representatives John James (MI-10), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), and Tom Barrett (MI-07) all voted to support. While the Republican Tax Law hurts working families across the board, Black families are particularly vulnerable to its disastrous cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and the loss of health care tax credits.

Nearly one third of Black Americans rely on Medicaid for health insurance, with the cuts putting mothers and children at risk of worse health outcomes. And, almost 3.9 million Black households in the U.S. receive SNAP benefits. A study from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that the Republican Tax Law’s cuts to SNAP would “significantly affect Black households’ abilities to afford food.” The loss of health care tax credits is also projected to lead to a decrease in health care coverage for Black families. 

“On a day meant to celebrate freedom and progress, we can’t forget that Congressman John James and Republicans in Congress voted to make health care and groceries harder to access for Black families in Michigan,” said Joel, an MI-10 resident. “Representative James isn't putting us first. He needs to work to reverse these cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and make life more affordable for the people he represents.”

For Black families across Michigan, Juneteenth represents the ongoing fight for equal opportunity. But that fight only gets harder when Congressmen Huizenga, James, and Barrett vote to cut health care and food assistance for residents of Michigan’s 4th, 10th, and 7th Districts who are working to get ahead. Michigan Families for Fair Care will continue to call on Representatives Barrett, Huizenga, and James to reverse the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and restore health care tax credits to protect the families who rely on these programs.