JACKSON, MS — One Voice issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Senate’s passage of a sweeping budget bill that would eliminate health care and food assistance for millions of Americans — including more than 170,000 Mississippians — to fund massive tax breaks for the wealthiest households. The statement can be attributed to Nsombi Lambright-Haynes, Executive Director of One Voice:

“This bill represents a deeply troubling step away from the values of care, dignity, and opportunity.

If enacted by the House, this legislation would strip health care coverage from over 170,000 Mississippians and jeopardize food assistance for thousands more — programs that are lifelines for families across our state.

Mississippi is already facing a severe hospital crisis, with dozens of rural hospitals closed or at risk due to financial instability. Our  “State of Emergency” report documents how these closures disproportionately impact Black communities and rural areas, worsening health disparities. Cutting Medicaid funding now would accelerate this crisis, forcing more hospitals to shut their doors and leaving countless Mississippians without access to critical care.

Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1% of Mississippians would receive an average tax cut of $61,170. This is more than the annual income of the average Mississippi worker and exceeds the state’s median household income of approximately $54,915. While working families are forced to sacrifice food and medical care, the richest Mississippians receive a windfall.

This isn’t a budget built on shared sacrifice — it’s one built on imbalance and injustice. It shifts costs to states and burdens to families, all while rewarding those who are already doing well.

As we approach Independence Day, we are reminded that freedom includes the right to live with dignity, safety, and support. This legislation threatens those ideals.”