RELEASE: Gottheimer Statement on Extreme-Right Budget Bill That Abandons Jersey Seniors, Children, and Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, May 22, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement after voting against the extreme-right budget bill that passed the House of Representatives: 

“There’s a reason Republicans have been fighting among themselves for months over their extreme-right budget bill: even they know it’s a disaster for our families, children, and seniors. 

To be clear: this bill is an all-out assault on Jersey families. It slashes Medicaid and strips health care from more than 87,000 people in my District, including nearly 30,000 children and 13,000 seniors. It guts SNAP and cuts school meals, ripping food out of the mouths of hungry kids and families. It defunds Planned Parenthood, making it significantly harder for women to access cancer screenings and basic health care. And, to make matters worse, it adds nearly $4 trillion to our national debt — sticking our children and future generations with an enormous bill. 

On top of all of this, the bill fails to restore the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, which President Trump promised to do. Extremists in the House blocked an amendment I helped introduce that would have eliminated the cap. For more than a century, our taxpayers were able to deduct what they paid in state taxes before paying their federal taxes — to avoid double taxation. I’ll continue fighting to fully restore SALT, because middle-class families across Jersey shouldn’t be stuck footing the bill for Red Moocher States.

As far-right extremists continue to fight in the Senate about how deep to gut our most critical programs, one thing is clear: Jersey children, seniors, and families will pay the price. But, as ever, I’ll keep fighting tooth and nail to protect them, to lower taxes, and to make life more affordable.”

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