Crying Mom at Protest: I ‘Sleep Better at Night Knowing Our Government Is Watching out for Our Babies’
HUNG: “I am here with my amazing daughter Jamara. I am here on behalf of families like mine, the Little Lobbyists. Families with children with complex medical needs. And we have been coming to Capitol Hill fighting for our kids to make sure that they have healthcare they need to survive and thrive. And the Tax Bill that Congress just passed threatens all of that. Those who voted for this Tax Bill gave trillions in tax cuts to the wealthy. They voted to add $1.8 trillion to the national debt. And we know, we know how they will try to pay off his debt. They told us! They are coming after Medicaid. So, I am here because I believe that members of Congress need to hear the stories and see the faces of those affected by their votes. There are millions affected by their votes. This is my story. 3 and a half years ago I had a great pregnancy and an amazing birth. And then, 15 minutes after she was born, my daughter Jamara was rushed to NICU where she remained for the next five months. 169 days to be exact. Since then, she has seen over a dozen specialists and had countless medical procedures. She uses a tracheostomy and a ventilator to breathe and a feeding tube for all of her nutrition. But I am thrilled to tell you that Jmara is thriving today. She is alive and thriving today because of the amazing medical care that she has received. She is alive and thriving today in great part because of Medicaid. Medicaid paid for her therapy, physical therapy, her occupational therapy, her feeding therapy. Medicaid pays for inclusive special education programs that Jamara attends at the local public school. Medicaid pays for the services and support in the community so children like Jamara can live at home with their families and not an institution far far away. Medicaid helps children with complex medical needs survive and thrive. Medicaid helps their families survive. Medicaid helps mothers like me, sleep better at night knowing that our government is watching out for our babies. So I am here to say thank you, Medicaid. I am here to say, not one penny for corporations and the wealthy at the expense of our children’s future. And I am here to say, I am a healthcare voter. (Applause) And families with children with complex medical needs are healthcare voters. Families who rely on Medicaid our healthcare voters. We have healthcare voters here today. (Crowd says yes) I am here to say, members of Congress, make no mistake, when you come after our kids, healthcare voters are coming after you! (Applause) Thank you!"
CROWD (chanting): "Vote them out!"
