Health Care

The Congressional Budget Office today released an updated score on the Republican “repeal and replace” health care bill. The results are no surprise to anyone who has been following the debate. The aim of the bill remains the same: raid the Medicaid budget for a huge, inefficient tax cut for the wealthiest Americans.

Mr. Speaker,

Below is a joint statement by several leading children’s health groups, including The American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Defense Fund, Children’s Dental Health Project, Family Voices, First Focus Campaign for Children, March of Dimes, and National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, urging Congress to oppose the American Health Care Act.

Republican leaders introduced their “repeal and replace” legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives Monday evening. With most media attention focused on President Trump’s unsubstantiated and provocative charges of wire tapping against President Obama most of America first heard of the proposed legislation this morning. President Trump weighed in via Twitter this morning:

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address underage drinking, a public health and safety issue that is often lost in the pile of other stories in our 24-hour news cycle.

Mr. Speaker, every year people all over the country acknowledge National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month recognizes the many thousands of individuals who have successfully recovered from substance use and abuse. There are millions of people at 12 step classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, and other recovery programs meeting every hour of the day and every day of the week.

Mr. Speaker, I would much rather be discussing a bill that would get automatic and semiautomatic weapons out of our lives. Nevertheless, I strongly oppose H.R. 1270. This bill gives advantage to the most secure in our country at the expense of the vulnerable. If you really look at it, it is kind of Robin Hood health care in reverse.