For months, Democrat leaders in Washington and across the country have been pushing a false narrative: that Republicans are slashing Medicaid and targeting vulnerable Americans. It’s a lie.

Here are the facts: House Republicans are protecting Medicaid for those who truly need it–pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. We are ending abuse of the system by cracking down on waste, fraud, and ineligible enrollees. That includes removing dead people, illegal immigrants, and able-bodied adults who refuse to work from the Medicaid rolls.

That’s not extreme. That’s common sense.

Medicaid was never meant to be a blank check. It’s a lifeline for the vulnerable–not a benefit for those who can work but choose not to. Our bill restores accountability and strengthens the program for the future.

We’re also introducing work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. This is nothing new. It’s the same approach that President Bill Clinton used during the welfare reform of the 1990s–an idea that had overwhelming bipartisan support. It worked then, and it will work now. If you can work, you should. That’s fair, and that’s responsible.

We’re also ending taxpayer-funded Medicaid benefits for illegal immigrants. Period. Americans should not be footing the healthcare bill for those who broke the law to enter this country. Medicaid must serve citizens and legal residents–no exceptions.

Instead of engaging on the facts, Democrats have resorted to staged outrage and political theater. They’ve misled the public by claiming this bill targets the disabled or the elderly. That’s false. Not a single person in those categories will lose coverage. They even used individuals as stage props in committee hearings to stir up fear. It’s shameful.

Throughout this process, I’ve been in constant contact with hospitals, rural health centers, and healthcare leaders across New York’s 23rd District. Their message was clear: protect rural healthcare and protect access for those who qualify. That’s exactly what this bill does.

This legislation puts guardrails around a critical safety-net program. It ensures that Medicaid is there for the people it was designed to help–not for scammers or those here illegally. And it respects the hard-earned dollars of American taxpayers.

Medicaid must be preserved. But it must also be protected from abuse. That’s what this bill does. I’m proud to support it–and I’ll keep fighting to make sure our healthcare safety net remains strong, responsible, and focused on those who actually need it.

Rep. Nick Langworthy represents the 23rd Congressional District in Congress.