This bill establishes a point of order in the House to prevent reconciliation measures from reducing benefits for children, seniors, pregnant women, or disabled individuals under Medicaid or SNAP during the 119th Congress.
Zachary (Zach) Nunn
Representative
IA-3
This bill establishes a point of order in the House of Representatives to prevent reconciliation measures from reducing benefits or eligibility for Medicaid or SNAP for protected groups, including children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. This rule applies for the duration of the 119th Congress. However, provisions aimed at reducing fraud or improper payments are exempt from this restriction.
House Rule Blocks Fast-Track Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP for Kids, Seniors, and Pregnant Women During 119th Congress
This resolution sets a new procedural guardrail in the House of Representatives, effective for the duration of the 119th Congress. Simply put, it stops the House from using the fast-track budget process—called reconciliation—to cut essential benefits for the most vulnerable people enrolled in Medicaid and SNAP.
The Procedural Shield for Safety Nets
When Congress uses reconciliation, they bypass the usual Senate rules, making it easier to pass budget bills with simple majorities. This resolution creates a "point of order" against any reconciliation measure that attempts to reduce enrollment or benefits for specific groups in two major social safety net programs: Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act) and SNAP (the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, or food stamps). This procedural move means that if a bill tries to make these cuts, a single member can object, potentially stopping the provision dead in its tracks.
Who Is Protected, and Why It Matters
This rule specifically shields the benefits of four key groups from reconciliation cuts. If you or someone in your household falls into one of these categories, your benefits are protected under this procedural rule: individuals under the age of 19; people 65 years old or older; any pregnant woman; and anyone who meets the federal definition of having a disability (typically tied to section 223 of the Social Security Act). For a working parent relying on SNAP to feed their kids, or a senior citizen depending on Medicaid for medical care, this provides a critical layer of stability, ensuring these essential supports won't be suddenly stripped away during high-stakes budget negotiations.
The Fine Print: Where Cuts Are Still Allowed
While the resolution blocks cuts aimed at reducing enrollment or benefits for these protected groups, it includes a crucial exception. The House can still consider provisions in a reconciliation bill if those provisions are specifically designed to reduce improper payments, stop fraudulent billing, or improve data matching to verify eligibility. This means Congress can still target waste and fraud within Medicaid and SNAP without triggering the procedural block. For example, if a provision aims to crack down on doctors billing Medicaid for services never rendered, that measure would be allowed, even if it results in less money flowing out of the program. This exception keeps the door open for efficiency improvements while protecting benefits for the people who genuinely need them. It’s a temporary, targeted rule designed to keep the most vulnerable groups out of the budget crosshairs during a high-speed legislative process.