By Chris Ponce

SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) — San Diego Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50) and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) held a roundtable on Monday, discussing how the Big Beautiful Bill impacts the medical education community. 

The roundtable was held at the Family Health Center of San Diego and featured several medical experts including UC San Diego Vice Dean for Medical Education Michelle Daniel, residents in Family Heatlh Center San Diego programs and more.

More than a month since the Trump administration passed their new tax bill, Peters and Jacobs shared how there will be cuts to student loan and grant programs. Specifically, the representatives and those in attendance discussed how the bill eliminates the Graduate PLUS program.

“The elimination of GradPLUS loans and the caps on federal borrowing levels will limit access to education for many highly qualified students who cannot afford the cost of medical school,” Daniel said. “This reduction in funding not only affects our students, but also the patients and communities we serve.”

Jacobs shared her and Peter’s disappointment of the bill as they believe it will make healthcare less accessible for most Americans. 

“We were both so angry about this bill that’s going to kick millions of people off their health insurance, close hospitals and it’s going to keep us sicker,” Jacobs said.

During the meeting, Daniels shared her reaction to budget cuts universities and research institutions have experienced. 

“Everyday I wake up and I have to look at the news and I have to say, ‘what additional budget adjustments do I have to make today,’” Daniels said. 

As the medical professionals shared their grievances with federal funding Peters thanked the group for meeting with them.

“We’ll try to do what we can to improve things in Washington,” Peters said. 

“Fewer doctors, combined with drastically less Medicaid funding for our hospitals, is a recipe for a public health disaster,” Peters shared in a press release following the event.

The representatives also plan to meet with San Diego business owners in a press conference to discuss the impact of tariffs on Wednesday at Cesar Chavez Park.