Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) pledged to protect Medicaid, then voted for a bill that slashes it. His support for the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” will result in billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts, breaking a key promise to his constituents.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed the House by a narrow vote of 215 in favor, 214 opposed. With two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio and all Democrats voted against it.

The legislation would extend tax cuts from 2017, boost military spending, increase funding for border enforcement, and support Trump’s mass deportation. It will also advance two of his campaign promises: eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay.

In terms of healthcare, the bill includes; Over $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and Medicare over 10 years, adds work requirements for Medicaid by 2026, CBO estimates that 8–15 million people could lose healthcare coverage and cuts to SNAP (food stamps) could affect millions, including children and legal immigrants.

It would also repeal clean energy tax credits passed in 2022 and raise the federal debt ceiling by $4 trillion.

Congressman Valadao released a statement yesterday after the House passed its version of the reconciliation bill. He claimed the bill protects healthcare coverage for vulnerable groups and offers tax breaks for working families.

In a statement he released on May 22, Valadao said he made it clear to House leaders that he would not support any plan that cut Medicaid coverage for children, seniors, people with disabilities, or pregnant women. 

Below is Congressman Valadao’s full statement as posted on his official website:

“From the very beginning, I was clear with House Leadership: I would not support a final reconciliation bill that included any reduction in Medicaid coverage for our most vulnerable populations—children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and pregnant women,” said Congressman Valadao. “After months of meetings with my constituents, Central Valley healthcare providers, and my congressional colleagues, I successfully preserved the integrity of the program and prevented proposals that would disproportionately impact California. This bill honors my commitment to protect Medicaid for our most vulnerable populations, while implementing commonsense reforms to strengthen the program. As this process moves forward, my priorities remain the same, and I am committed to working closely with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP are protected for those who need them most.”

Congressman Valadao continued, “The House version of this bill also blocks the largest tax hike in American history and delivers meaningful tax relief for working families and seniors here in the Central Valley. More than 90 percent of my constituents rely on the standard deduction, and this legislation preserves the provisions that doubled it. It also expands the Child Tax Credit, eliminates taxes on tips and on overtime, and enhances deductions for seniors. These are real wins that will put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Central Valley families.”

Currently, nearly 80 million people receive health coverage through Medicaid, making it the largest public health insurance program in the country. Under existing law, eligibility is based on income, assets, and life circumstances, without the need to meet work or service obligations.

But the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” would change that. Beginning in 2026, the bill would require adults who gained Medicaid access under the Affordable Care Act to work or participate in approved activities like job training or volunteering for at least 80 hours a month. Those who fail to meet the requirement could lose their health coverage.

While seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant individuals, and caregivers for dependents are supposed to be exempt, the language in the bill has left some uncertainty around how those exemptions would be applied in practice.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the GOP-backed legislation could result in 10.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage by 2034, with roughly half of those losses tied directly to the new work requirement provision. The remaining losses would stem from other measures in the bill, such as stricter and more frequent eligibility checks that could make it harder for people to maintain their coverage. 

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that up to 14.4 million people could lose Medicaid benefits over the next decade if the bill becomes law.

Next, the bill heads to the Senate, where it will face more debate and possible changes. In the meantime, criticism of Congressman Valadao’s vote has intensified in Kern County.

The Kern County Democratic Party criticized Valadao’s support for the bill and called it “a blatant act of betrayal to our community.”

“In the darkness of night, Congressman David Valadao lied to his constituents and was the deciding vote to cut vital services that a majority of his constituents depend on every day,” Kern Democratic Party said a statement. “Instead of standing up for working-class families and protecting his constituents, Mr. Valadao joined the rest of the cowardly House Republicans in supporting Trump and his billionaire buddies. He is hurting Central Valley residents only to please Trump.”

“David Valadao should not be afraid of Trump — he should be afraid of his real bosses, the people he represents,” the statement continued. “We must never forget Mr. Valadao’s blatant act of betrayal to our community, and we must continue to organize, mobilize, and support the families and individuals who make our home such an amazing place.”