Bronti Lemke, a WA MomsForce Fellowship graduate, two-time DC bootcamp mom, and current Hub Leader, joined Senator Murray in Seattle for a press conference on June 14, 2025 about the importance of Medicaid and SNAP. Bronti shared her story about Medicaid enabling her to seek addiction treatment, have a healthy pregnancy, get an important surgery done for her son while he was an infant, and stay healthy as they grow and Bronti gets her college degree. Here is her story: 

My name is Bronti Lemke, and I live in Tacoma. I'm a proud member of MomsRising and the mom of a terrific 6-year-old son. Thank you, Senator Murray, for the chance to tell my story here today.

I am a Medicaid success story. I was an addict, and I got clean when my son was born—because, and only because, of Medicaid. Now, I’m so proud to have completed my associate's degree work at community college. I’ll be graduating and getting my degree tomorrow. In the fall, I’m going to the University of Washington, Tacoma to get my bachelor’s degree.

Medicaid—Apple Health here in Washington—changed my whole life. It covered the medication-assisted treatment and services that made it possible for me to get off drugs and have the life I have today. Medicaid also covered my son’s birth and a surgery he needed as an infant. It makes it possible for us to get preventive and routine care. UW requires vaccines before you can attend classes, and Medicaid will cover them for me. Medicaid has kept us healthy and out of debt.

We also rely on SNAP. We get $488 per month. It’s not enough, but without it, I’m not sure how we’d eat. We’d rely entirely on food banks. Food prices are skyrocketing—I can’t believe the cost of chicken thighs. I like to cook and give my son nutritious fruits and veggies. SNAP makes that possible.

It terrifies me to think Congress will slash Medicaid and SNAP. I don’t know what we’ll do. I don’t understand why any lawmakers think more tax cuts for billionaires are more important than food and health care for families like mine.

We’re already seeing the impact of looming cuts. It’s incredibly hard to get medical appointments right now, as everybody is trying to get care ahead of the cuts. I wish Congress would make child care more affordable, invest in schools, and continue supporting the health care and food we need.

Thank you.