US Sen. Ruben Gallego Raises Alarm Over Medicare and Medicaid Cuts at Y-AN Town Hall

U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego [D-Ariz.] held a town hall meeting on April 17 at the Yavapai-Apache Nation, where he was introduced by Tribal Council Chairwoman Tanya Lewis. The gathering focused on critical issues affecting the local community, particularly Medicare and Medicaid.

During his address, Gallego emphasized the significance of these programs, noting that one-third of Northern Arizona’s population relies on them for medical expenses. He warned that potential cuts could have devastating consequences for rural healthcare access and personnel retention.

“It’s hard to get specialists out here, it’s hard to get doctors and dentists,” Gallego remarked. He expressed concern about specialists who were laid off possibly never returning, even if funding was restored. He shared alarming anecdotes about individuals losing access to vital medications, such as insulin, due to federal social welfare program cuts.

Gallego encouraged attendees to maintain pressure on their Congressional representatives, including U.S. Rep. Eli Crane [R-District 1]. He claimed that such advocacy is influencing Republicans to reconsider proposed Medicaid cuts, highlighting the power of constituent engagement.

The senator also criticized the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, recently passed in the U.S. House. The legislation mandates stringent identification requirements for voter registration, potentially disenfranchising many Americans. “This would specifically target two types of people,” Gallego stated, pointing out the implications for both tribal voters and married women who have not updated their IDs.

Gallego expressed his commitment to opposing the act, praising Arizona’s current election laws. Following the town hall, he shared that another legislative focus would be enhancing federal responses to wildfires, citing concerns over the unusually dry winter and the upcoming summer conditions.

“We have a lot of water settlements that we still haven’t finished,” he noted, referencing the importance of finalizing agreements related to the Colorado River. Local resident Elizabeth Briggs emphasized the need for Republican senators to engage more with their constituents, urging them to listen actively to the community’s concerns.