ICYMI: Dexter, One of Six Dem Physicians in Congress, Testifies Against Medicaid Cuts in Rules Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) fought for 8+ hours to testify against the GOP tax scam during the House Rules Committee hearing that began at 1:00 am. Her testimony came as she introduced amendments to prevent attacks on Medicaid, free speech, and public lands. 

As one of six Democratic physicians in Congress, Congresswoman Dexter founded the Democratic Doctors Caucus to center patients and evidenced-based solutions that lower costs, expand access and strengthen care delivery. The Democratic Doctors Caucus has been tireless in its effort to fight back against Republicans’ proposal to cut Medicaid.  

Dexter joins Democrats in House Rules Committee  

Read Congresswoman Dexter’s testimony, as prepared for delivery, below:   

“Today, I am offering three amendments rooted in a basic principle: government should work for the people—not silence them, not shield corruption, and certainly not rip away their health care. 

Let’s start with what the GOP Tax Scam tries to take from the public: their voice. 

Under current law, communities can protest oil and gas leasing decisions that threaten their land, water, or climate. This bill would impose a $150 fee—plus more for extra pages or lease parcels—just to be heard.  

Let’s be honest about what that is: a tax on public participation. A toll on free speech. And it won’t deter billion-dollar oil companies—it will deter working people. People who love our outdoor places. 

At the same time, Republicans are slashing royalty payments and handing billions in giveaways to the fossil fuel industry. That tells you everything about where their priorities lie. 

My amendment would strike this unjust protest fee from the bill—and protect the public’s right to be heard. 

Second, we must ensure accountability. 

I’m offering an amendment to allocate a modest 0.5% of new funds to the Department of Interior's Office of the Inspector General—a nonpartisan watchdog that saves taxpayers money by rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. 

This should be easy for Republicans to support. It’s the same bipartisan provision they themselves championed in 2021, led by our current Natural Resources Chair.   

It's simple: Let’s ensure transparency and pass this amendment.  

And now, I want to speak to what I believe is the most urgent and dangerous part of this legislation: its impact on health care. 

Before I came to Congress, I spent nearly twenty years caring for some of the sickest patients in our community. I’ve worked in emergency rooms, and I know what happens when a system doesn’t have the resources it needs to serve its patients.  

 That’s why I’m offering an amendment to require states to report on how coverage losses under this bill will impact uncompensated care and emergency department wait times in safety-net hospitals. 

If this bill were really only about routing out waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, they would welcome this kind of data.  

But we know the truth. This bill isn’t about waste.    

It’s about ripping health care away from nearly 14 million Americans—and destabilizing the health care system for everyone else in the process. And for what? To give tax breaks for billionaires.  

 Medicaid isn’t just a lifeline for patients—it’s fundamental to our health care infrastructure. Providers depend on it to stay open, to serve not only Medicaid patients, but everyone in our communities.   

Cutting Medicaid will mean: 

 Clinics and hospitals in rural towns will shut down;  

Hospitals in cities will be over capacity;  

Seniors will be forced out of nursing homes due to closures; 

And emergency rooms going on divert because there simply isn’t space for more people to be seen. 

We’re talking about longer waits for pediatric care. Delays for life-saving cancer treatment. People suffering and dying—not because we don’t have the tools to help them, but because we’ve made a political choice to take those tools away. 

 These cuts will be devastating. And the consequences won’t just be statistics on a spreadsheet—they will be lives lost, futures cut short, and suffering that could have been prevented.  

And again, for what? To give tax breaks to billionaires.  

 I urge my Republican colleagues: show courage in this moment. Stand with the constituents who cannot afford to lose their health care. Support these amendments. Defeat this dangerous bill. 

Thank you. I yield back.” 

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