Mackenzie voted for a bill that would kick 17 million Americans off their health insurance, including nearly 12 million Americans off of Medicaid. Then he claimed the bill was an “unprecedented win for workers.” More than 26,000 Pennsylvanians in his district could lose their health coverage as a result of his vote.
Mackenzie, who has previously criticized Congress for failing to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also hosted Speaker Mike Johnson at a campaign event, when Johnson pledged to get rid of the ACA.
July 2025: Mackenzie Voted For The Senate FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Extended $4 Trillion In Expiring Tax Cuts, Added New Tax Breaks, Appropriated $448 Billion In Defense, Border, And Immigration Enforcement Funding, Increased The SALT Deduction To $40,000, And Cut Medicaid And Other Social Programs To Offset The Costs. In July 2025, Mackenzie voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214. [House Vote 190, 7/3/25; Congressional Quarterly, 7/3/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
5/22/25: Mackenzie Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Included $3.8 Trillion In Tax Cuts Offset By $1.5 Trillion In Spending Reductions To Programs Like Medicaid And The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In May 2025, Mackenzie voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution. It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. […] It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 214. [House Vote 145, 5/22/25; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2/25/25: Mackenzie Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Framework That Included $2 Trillion In Cuts, Raised The Statutory Debt Limit By $4 Trillion, And Required House Committees To Recommend Legislation That Would Implement Trump’s Agenda. In February 2025, Mackenzie voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would recommend a budget for fiscal 2025 and budget levels through fiscal 2034. The resolution would assume minimum savings of $1.5 trillion over 10 years and 2.6 percent economic growth over the same period. It also would require the statutory debt limit to be raised by $4 trillion. It also would authorize the House Ways and Means Committee to increase deficits by $4.5 trillion over 10 years to extend the 2017 tax cuts and implement new tax cuts proposed by the White House. It also would provide instructions for the budget reconciliation process through which separate legislation could be considered and passed in the Senate via a simple majority vote. The measure would deliver instructions to 11 House committees to report legislation that would implement President Donald Trump’s agenda, such as expanding tax cuts and bolstering border security and immigration enforcement. The committees would be required to report their legislative recommendations to the House Budget Committee by March 27, 2025. It also would set a $2 trillion target for the spending cuts to be submitted to the House Budget Committee. The resolution also would stipulate that if the committees don't reach that target, the Ways and Means’ reconciliation instructions to increase the deficit by a maximum of $4.5 trillion would be decreased by the amount the other committees come in below the target. Similarly, it would stipulate that Ways and Means could increase the deficit above the $4.5 trillion level by the amount of savings the committees achieve above the $2 trillion target.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 217 to 215. [House Vote 50, 2/25/25; Congressional Quarterly, 2/25/25; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 14]
February 2025: Mackenzie Claimed The U.S. House Republican Budget Resolution “Makes No Mention Of Medicaid At All.” According to Lehigh Valley Live, "McClure criticized Mackenzie and House Republicans for voting to cut Medicaid in the first vote on a new budget. In the Lehigh Valley, 117,000 low-income people could lose free health care because of the proposed budget, he said. Asked for comment, Mackenzie said, ‘Mr. McClure is sadly starting his campaign with lies – the budget resolution makes no mention of Medicaid at all.’" [Lehigh Valley Live, 2/28/25]
Mackenzie Claimed The House Republican Reconciliation Bill’s Cuts To Medicaid Were “Common Sense.” According to a press release from Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, "Protecting Medicaid Integrity: The budget protects and strengthens Medicaid with common sense reforms — ending benefits for illegal immigrants, adding work requirements for able-bodied adults, and tightening eligibility rules. Medicaid spending will increase every year under this budget." [Press Release – Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, 5/22/25]
Mackenzie On House Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill: “There Are Some Really Positive Provisions In This Legislation.” According to the Lehigh Valley News, "Hours after casting an essential vote for the Republican Party's ‘big beautiful bill’ that would reallocate billions of federal dollars to fund tax breaks, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie hailed the legislation as a boon for Lehigh Valley residents and the American economy. ‘My focus from a tax perspective has been on working families and seniors. There are some really positive provisions in this legislation,’ the freshman Republican said in an interview with LehighValleyNews.com." [Lehigh Valley News, 5/25/25]
Mackenzie Claimed House Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill Delivered “Real Relief For Seniors And Working Families.” According to a press release from Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, "Today, Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, representing the Greater Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, voted to pass a comprehensive budget reconciliation bill that follows through on his promises to our communities and delivers major wins for working families, border security, and America’s fiscal future. ‘This budget delivers real relief for seniors and working families, secures our border, and reins in reckless spending,’ said Congressman Mackenzie. ‘After years of wide-open borders, uncontrolled inflation, and government spending run amok, this budget finally addresses the needs of our community and our country. We’re delivering tax relief, boosting take-home pay, and improving the vitality and efficiency of critical programs. These are the commonsense solutions that people across the Greater Lehigh Valley are counting on.’" [Press Release – Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, 5/22/25]
Mackenzie Spokesperson: “The Commonsense Budget Passed By The House Will Save Working People And Seniors Thousands Of Dollars, Secure The Border Once And For All, And Protect Vital Services For Vulnerable Americans.” According to the Lehigh Valley News, "Mackenzie praised the bill for securing the border and raising the child tax credit. He also approved of how the bill would preserve Medicaid for children and seniors while cutting benefits to people illegally in the country. In a prepared statement Monday, Mackenzie's staff cast the criticisms of the Medicaid vote as the cries of out-of-touch liberals. Mackenzie has previously noted that polling showed the American public broadly supports adding work requirements to federal benefits. ‘The commonsense budget passed by the House will save working people and seniors thousands of dollars, secure the border once and for all, and protect vital services for vulnerable Americans. Congressman Mackenzie will keep fighting to deliver on the things he has promised the people of the Greater Lehigh Valley,’ said Arnaud Armstrong, a spokesman." [Lehigh Valley News, 6/2/25]
Mackenzie Called The Republican Reconciliation Bill An “Unprecedented Win For Workers.” According to a press release from Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, "Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, representing the Greater Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, visited two local businesses yesterday to highlight benefits from the One Big Beautiful Bill for small businesses, service employees, and working families. The visits, part of a districtwide effort to highlight key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill, included stops at Gentlemen’s Barbershop in Bethlehem and The Boatyard Restaurant in Lehighton. Congressman Mackenzie met with employees and customers to discuss how the new budget helps workers keep more of what they earn while empowering small businesses. ‘The One Big Beautiful Bill is an unprecedented win for workers and small businesses in the Greater Lehigh Valley,’ said Congressman Mackenzie. ‘By delivering tax relief on tips and overtime, supporting working families with an expanded Child Tax Credit, and making permanent the small business tax deduction, we're delivering real results for our region.’" [Press Release – Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, 8/1/25]
HEADLINE: "Outside Congressman's Office, Protesters Make Noise Over Potential Medicaid Cuts" [Lehigh Valley News, 2/19/25]
HEADLINE: "Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Faces Criticism Over Support For Medicaid Cuts" [Lehigh Valley Public Radio, 3/21/25]
HEADLINE: "Protesters Sound Off On Rep. Ryan Mackenzie For 1st Time Since Medicaid Vote" [Lehigh Valley News, 6/2/25]
Fellowship Community CEO Mary Kay McMahon Said Medicaid Covered 35 To 40-Percent Of The Cost Of Care For Their Nursing Home Patients And A Medicaid Cut Could Force Them To Sell The Service Or Eliminate Beds. According to the Associated Press, "‘It’s definitely a very hot topic for us right now, 100%,’ said Mary Kay McMahon, president and CEO of the nonprofit Fellowship Community, which operates a nursing home outside Allentown in Mackenzie’s district. McMahon estimated that Medicaid covers about 35% to 40% of the cost to care for a skilled nursing patient, and a Medicaid cut might force Fellowship Community to sell the service or eliminate beds. ‘There’s very few options left, to be honest, and I don’t know where these people are going to go for that care,’ McMahon said. ‘That’s what concerns me.’" [Associated Press, 3/1/25]
October 2024: At A Campaign Event For Mackenzie, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson Said He Would Get Rid Of The Affordable Care Act. According to Salon, “If former President Donald Trump returns to the White House, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., says he will take another swing at repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), legislation that was enacted by former President Barack Obama in 2010 to expand health care coverage to poorer and middle-class Americans. In its place, he proposed ‘massive reform,’ but did not offer details on what they would entail. ‘Health care reform’s going to be a big part of the agenda. When I say we’re going to have a very aggressive first 100 days agenda, we got a lot of things still on the table,’ Johnson said at a campaign event for GOP House candidate Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania. ‘No Obamacare?’ an attendee asked Johnson, using the shorthand name for the ACA. ‘No Obamacare,’ Johnson responded, rolling his eyes. ‘The ACA is so deeply ingrained, we need massive reform to make this work, and we got a lot of ideas on how to do that.’” [Salon, 10/31/24]
2017: Mackenzie Criticized Congress For Failing To Repeal And Replace The Affordable Care Act. According to the Guardian, "While no one seems to want to attack Trump, it's clearly open season on Congress, including for Republicans, whose party is currently in charge. ‘There is no doubt that the failure to repeal and replace Obamacare lies at the feet of Congress,’ said Mackenzie. ‘You can't frame it any other way.’" [The Guardian, 9/21/17]
2014: Mackenzie Criticized The Cost Of The Affordable Care Act And Encouraged The Governor To Rein In Spending And Emphasize “The Right Priorities.” According to a press release from Pennsylvania State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, "Pennsylvania faces a projected budget deficit of nearly $1.4 billion. Pension costs are largely responsible, contributing $600 million to the shortfall. Another culprit is the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, whose implementation is expected to cost the Commonwealth almost $220 million this year. 'Clearly, with a deficit of this magnitude, we must be careful not to overpromise on what we can deliver,' said Mackenzie. 'I am encouraged that the governor has proposed to address the issue by reining in spending and emphasizing the right priorities, not raising taxes.'" [Press Release – Pennsylvania State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, 2/4/14]
The Affordable Care Act Allowed States To Expand Medicaid And States That Did Had Dramatically Lowered The Number Of People Without Health Insurance. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "The Affordable Care Act (ACA) permits states to expand Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the poverty level (about $20,780 annually for an individual or $35,630 for a family of three). States that have adopted the expansion have dramatically lowered their uninsured rates. Extensive research finds that the people who gained coverage have grown healthier and more financially secure, while long-standing racial inequities in health outcomes, coverage, and access to care have shrunk." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 6/14/24]