James Talarico, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, expressed concerns over government funding agreements that could potentially remove health insurance for 1.7 million Texans. "Any government funding agreement that removes health insurance for 1.7 million Texans amounts to surrender, not compromise," he said in an official campaign release.
"Any ‘deal' that kicks 1.7 million Texans off their health insurance isn't compromise; it's surrender," said James Dell Talarico, Texas State Representative of 50th District (D).
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), a government shutdown disrupts critical health programs and delays funding for community health centers. These centers serve millions of patients who rely on federal support for primary and preventive care. The AMA emphasized that such interruptions jeopardize access to essential services nationwide.
Data from Texas Health and Human Services indicates that over 1.7 million Texans depend on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for their health coverage. These programs are vital for children, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities. Federal shutdowns or budget cuts could directly threaten their access to necessary care.
KFF Health News reports that during a federal government shutdown, many federally funded health services experience significant disruptions. Programs like Head Start, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and certain operations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can be suspended or reduced, impacting millions of Americans. Health agencies may have to delay grants, inspections, and reimbursements until funding is restored.
Talarico is an eighth-generation Texan and former middle school teacher who was first elected to the Texas House in 2018 representing the 50th District. He holds degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, Harvard University, and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
