Senate Version of Tax and Spending Bill Still Fails the Test of Compassion

At the President’s urging, the Senate is expected to vote this weekend on its version of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Senate Republicans are scrambling to finalize the bill, but it’s likely to fail the test of compassion. 

Right now is an important time to contact Republican senators, especially these potential swing votes:  Collins (ME), Murkowski (AK), Justice (WV), Capito (WV), Tillis (NC), Curtis (UT), Moran (KS), Cassidy (LA), Ernst (IA), and Moreno (OH).

Like the House version, the Senate bill would make deep cuts in health care for low-income people and SNAP food assistance in order to help finance tax cuts that disproportionately benefit high-income people. 

More specifically, the Senate bill: 

• Cuts health care for 16 million people, leaving many without coverage.

• Weakens support for children and families, by:

  • Taking food assistance (SNAP) from up to 3 million people, increasing hunger.

  • Excluding the poorest families from the Child Tax Credit and denying the credit  to millions of children because one parent does not have a Social Security number. 

  • Imposes more work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP—even though most recipients already work. SNAP already has work requirements, and experience shows these requirements push people off programs without increasing employment.

• Makes these cuts to assistance for poor and low-income people to help finance tax cuts, which will disproportionately benefit high-income people.

• Adds to the national debt, placing a burden on future generations.

The Senate will vote on a series of amendments, some of which would moderate cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and others that would make the cuts even more severe. They will then vote on the amended bill.

I joined my colleagues in the Circle of Protection in signing a letter opposing the current version of the reconciliation bill. Read our letter here.

Churches Urge Congress to Restore Foreign Aid

President Trump is asking Congress to approve and make permanent the rapid-fire destruction of U.S. international aid that he and DOGE executed in February. The Circle of Protection is urging Congress to restore our nation's programs of humanitarian and development assistance. The Senate is expected to vote on the President's rescissions package next week.

The Circle letter reminds Congress that U.S. assistance played a significant role in the wonderful reduction of poverty in the world between 1990 and 2023. They argue that God wants us to play our part in continuing progress against hunger, poverty, and disease around the world. 

Read the letter on the Circle website here.

Christian Appeal to Christian Elected Officials

The latest Circle of Protection letter appeals especially to Christian elected officials: “Our Lord Jesus said that the nations will be judged by how they treat people who are hungry or thirsty, immigrants, people who can’t afford basic life necessities, people who need health care, and prisoners.” Most of the people who voted for President Trump are Christians, as are 88 percent of the members of the 119th Congress.

As congressional leadership moves toward a massive budget bill, church leaders in the Circle of Protection are urging that they not cut Medicaid, SNAP, or other low-income programs. “It would be wrong to take food and health care away from struggling families to finance tax cuts for high-income people,” they write.

This Circle letter also expresses appreciation for bipartisan interest in expanding the Child Tax Credit and urges that improvements in the program should prioritize low-income working families.

Read the letter below: