SE Kansas City News

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a U.S. Congressman representing Missouri’s 5th district since 2005, marked the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid with a series of posts on July 30, 2025, addressing health care funding, economic concerns, and environmental protections.

In his first post on July 30 at 16:13 UTC, Cleaver celebrated the milestone for federal health programs while criticizing recent legislative actions: "Happy 60th birthday to Medicare and Medicaid! Millions of Americans rely on these critical lifelines to stay healthy. And while Republicans just enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in the program’s history, I’m committed to restoring funding and protecting access to health care".

Later that day at 17:36 UTC, Cleaver commented on current economic conditions and policy decisions by the executive branch: "Because of the President’s tariff taxes, funding freezes, and general recklessness, America is seeing slower economic growth and higher inflation than we had last year. It’s about time Republicans in Congress worked with Democrats to provide real relief to families and small".

Addressing environmental issues at 18:46 UTC on July 30, Cleaver criticized Republican efforts regarding climate policies: "As communities around the world face dangerous, record-breaking heat waves, Republicans continue to do the bidding of Big Oil by gutting environmental protections. It’s shameful."

Cleaver has represented Missouri's 5th District since replacing Karen McCarthy in Congress in 2005. Born in Waxahachie, Texas in 1944 and currently residing in Kansas City, he graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a BS degree in 1972.