OCA Condemns Senate Vote on Budget Bill, Calls House for Action
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2025
Media Contact:
Socheata Sun, Senior Communications Associate
socheata.sun@ocanational.org
Washington, D.C. — OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates strongly condemns the Senate for its vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as it undermines healthcare access for already vulnerable communities and violates civil rights safeguards that should be guaranteed to all individuals residing in the United States.
On Tuesday, June 29, the Senate voted to pass H.R. 1: One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which puts marginalized communities at risk of losing vital healthcare resources. With this vote, the Senate has demonstrated a disregard for core American values: safety, dignity, and equal protection under the law for all residents.
This decision has created immense fear and anxiety across the nation. Vital programs like Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and student financial aid now face drastic funding cuts, threatening the well-being of communities of color, low-income families, and immigrant populations. The bill introduces harmful restrictions that could deny healthcare access based on immigration status, reinforcing xenophobic policies that have no place in a just and equitable society.
“This bill sends a clear message that our most vulnerable communities are expendable,” stated Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. “Stripping away healthcare access and civil rights protections is not just a policy decision—it’s a betrayal of the values we claim to uphold as a nation. Our communities deserve better. We will not stay silent as our rights and dignity are threatened.”
OCA urges Congress to continue working on the budget bill to ensure it reflects a shared commitment to civil rights, healthcare access, and the basic human needs of all communities. Healthcare cannot be compromised, and fundamental civil rights must not be revoked.
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About OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates
Founded in 1973, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national, member-driven social justice organization of community advocates dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). Learn more about our work at ocanational.org/about.