First to speak was Lona DeNisco, a Silver Creek resident who works as an Emergency Room Nurse at Erie County Medical Center. DeNisco said the impact of the proposed cuts to Medicaid could force hospitals to close, stating, “a collapsing public health system will crumble.” She took aim at the current administration in Washington and voiced her concern for marginalized communities.

The demonstration came a few hours before a scheduled markup of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Budget Reconciliation Legislation, set for 2 p.m. Tuesday. A day prior to the demonstration, Congressman Nick Langworthy released a statement on the matter.

“After five months of tough negotiations and in-depth discussions with key stakeholders, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has delivered a bold reconciliation bill that achieves our top priorities: protecting Medicaid for those who genuinely need it, advancing American energy independence, and ending the hemorrhaging of taxpayer dollars through waste, fraud, and abuse,” Langworthy said.

Sarah Buckley, a Registered Nurse for more than 20 years, called the legislation markup “a gigantic Medicaid cut.” Buckley noted that because many hospitals are supported by Medicaid, the cuts could also impact many who do not rely on Medicaid for health care coverage.

Frank Torain, a Pastor in the city of Dunkirk, urged for “compassion and care” regarding potential Medicaid cuts.

Langworthy’s statement addressed those concerns, saying, “From day one, I made it clear that I would fight relentlessly to protect rural hospitals and safeguard access to care — and as the only Republican from New York serving on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I was proud to help lead that charge alongside my colleagues and the White House.”

The final speaker at Tuesday’s demonstration was Frank Torain, a Pastor in the city of Dunkirk. Torain called for “compassion and care” in support of Medicaid and the vital role it plays for those who otherwise cannot afford proper care.