Millions of Americans are at risk of losing access to Medicaid under the proposed legislation, which passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee (HECC). Representative Brett Guthrie, a Kentucky Republican and chair of the HECC, insisted that the changes will "strengthen and sustain" Medicaid for the future, calling them "common sense."

There were cheers when Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee signed off on the GOP tax breaks bill after a round-the-clock session that pushed President Donald Trump’s package past overwhelming Democratic opposition.

This issue has been a flashpoint of contention between Democrats and Republicans for months, with the GOP-controlled Congress insisting they would only eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse” from the Medicaid program.