In Peoria, Duckworth Joins Illinois Health Care Advocates and Medicaid Recipients to Condemn GOP Efforts to Gut Medicaid
[PEORIA, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Peoria-area health care advocates, Medicaid recipients and their families to call out the Trump Administration and Republican’s dangerous, relentless attempts to slash Medicaid with their Big, Beautiful Betrayal. Duckworth spoke in support and defense of the millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid including pregnant women, children with disabilities as well as people in nursing homes—and demanded that Republicans put their constituents’ lives ahead of Trump’s ego by working with Democrats to protect the critical basic needs program. Photos from the press conference are available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
“Republicans told us in Project 2025 that they’d come for Medicaid—and this is one of the rare times the GOP is actually keeping its word,” Duckworth said. “Make no mistake: there’s no way to pay for Trump’s $4 trillion tax break for billionaires without putting it on the backs of Americans who are already struggling to pay the bills. As Republicans threatened health care for 16 million Americans—including 3.4 million Illinoisans—to appease Trump and his billionaire buddies, I’ll keep working with Illinois health care advocates to protect and defend Medicaid.”
“In Illinois, Medicaid covers over half of all births—and in many rural areas, that number is even higher. For thousands of pregnant people, Medicaid is the difference between accessing prenatal care or going without it. The proposed cuts to Medicaid would jeopardize maternal health and endanger the lives of mothers and babies across our state,” said Chi Chi Okwu, Executive Director, EverThrive Illinois.
“Children and families—especially those with complex medical needs or in rural communities—already face so many barriers to care. The proposed changes to the Medicaid program would only widen the care gap for children,” said Michele Beekman, MD, FAAP, Secretary, Executive Committee of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“In Illinois, Medicaid is not just a program; it is a lifeline that embodies our commitment to compassion and justice, ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens, including those with disabilities, our children, and working families, have access to the healthcare and support they need to thrive. It is our duty to protect this essential safety net for the sake of our collective humanity,” said Samantha Alloway, Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois.
“Hospital leaders are doing everything they can to preserve access to care, protect jobs, and remain anchors in their communities. But make no mistake—Medicaid cuts erode that foundation. We need policies that invest in rural health, not undermine it,” said Tracy Warner, Executive Director, Illinois Critical Hospital Network.
Last month, Duckworth joined Caring Across Generations’ 24-hour Capitol Hill vigil to call out Donald Trump and Elon Musk for their heartless, relentless attempts to slash Medicaid funding.
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