After three surgeries, a blood clot, an infection and being hospitalized for over a week, the moment I was discharged I immediately rushed to the airport so I could get on a plane to D.C. and vote NO on Republicans’ disastrous budget plan.

They are trying to make the most devastating cuts to Medicaid the nation has ever seen – $880 billion – all so they can give more tax cuts to billionaires and corporations.

Over 80 million Americans rely on Medicaid for critical health care, including 172,000 in the District I represent who know it as California’s Medi-Cal.

I was just in the hospital for over a week due to unexpected complications from knee surgery and I am so lucky to have health insurance. This experience reminded me of how critical Medicaid is for those most in need in our country including seniors, children, the disabled, and hardworking Americans who are struggling to afford basic needs.

The Republicans’ proposal is wildly unpopular and people across America are learning how these cuts would directly impact their communities – from food assistance, schools, parks and wildfire mitigation, infrastructure improvements to our roads and bridges, and much more.

This isn’t about “efficiency,” Trump and his Republicans have a cruel budget that prioritizes the nation’s wealthiest billionaires and corporations, while hurting hardworking families and everyday Americans.

Democrats did all that we could to stand united and oppose Republicans’ reckless and harmful budget. When Americans start to see their health insurance costs go up, lose funding for schools, have their roads deteriorate, and have an even harder time affording groceries – they have Republicans to blame.