More than 600 people in Northwest Washington state used Representative Rick Larsen’s ‘share your story’ webpage to tell Rep. Larsen how Republicans’ Big Ugly Law will impact them. Rep. Rick Larsen announced the webpage Saturday, July 26th, at Snohomish County Indivisible’s “Families First” rally.
30% of responses are from Snohomish County residents, 29% are from Whatcom County residents, 19% are from Skagit County residents, 17% are from Island County residents, and 5% are from San Juan County residents.
Northwest Washington state residents shared concerns about losing access to health care:
“I’m a disabled young adult with severe chronic illnesses, but I don’t qualify for ssi. I need my apple health to cover my multiple medications, specialists, and frequent hospital trips. If I lose healthcare I know I will need to stop my medications as I will not be able to afford them. I work as a part time high school teacher at a non profit school, part time artist, and I take care of my elderly parents when I can. None of these jobs will be enough to cover the cost of my meds. I fear without my meds my autoimmune diseases will kill me.” – Anonymous, Bellingham
“My wife and I are in our late 70s with one daughter who just turned 49 and was diagnosed with Bipolar 1. We were able to get her on Apple Health, and she is doing much better. But I am fearful she will go downhill without help. Medicaid funds Apple Health.” — Anonymous, Burlington
“My daughter is physically disabled and intellectually delayed. We rely on Medicaid for all her specialist appts, in home health care, all of her medical supplies and medical devices. With out all of those things covered, we aren't sure what we will do to cover those cost. Because that will trickle into our housing cost, food cost and just day to day necessities.” — Hailey, Lynden
Others expressed fear of not being able to afford groceries without food assistance benefits:
“For the past eight or so years following my undergrad, I have been helping care for my mom who has faced several health challenges - most recently cancer. I'm an unpaid family caregiver who depends on food and medical help. I was told by multiple state workers, my labor and efforts save our state thousands of dollars each year, and in exchange, I have qualified for a work requirement waiver. I would love to be paid for all I do, but am grateful for my food and medical help, and to be able to help my mom. This law threatens to strip me of my food and medical assistance I desperately need and place everything I do onto the state and state funded caregivers.” — Anonymous, Everett
“I am a student at Western Washington University. Before I was, I was homeless at 18 years old. Without access to food assistance, I would have no way of living. I needed food assistance to live, so that I could find a job, and get myself into university. The mindset that people should work and we can't give handouts is flawed- because I could not have found a job, or gotten myself into university, if I was stuck starving on the streets.” — Anonymous, Bellingham
“I am a volunteer for the Edmonds Food Bank, and I see the crisis level of food insecurity in our community. The passing of Trump’s bill will additionally strain the current food insecurity crisis . . . Trumps bill is removing the safety net for those individuals and families that need medical and food support.” — Anonymous, Edmonds
In his speech announcing the webpage, Rep. Larsen emphasized why individuals sharing their stories matters.
"We've got to start now thinking about, and building the case, to reverse the worst impacts of the Big Ugly Law… and that's where you all come in,” said Rep. Larsen. “The health care and food assistance cuts will be rolled out slowly over the next couple years... You can help Congress fight back by sharing your story about the impacts of the Big Ugly Law.”
People in Northwest Washington state can go to larsen.house.gov/shareyourstory to share with Rep. Larsen how Republicans’ Big Ugly Law will impact them.
Rep. Larsen’s full remarks announcing the webpage are available here.
