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Velazquez Opposes Affordable Care Act Repeal

January 11, 2017

Velázquez Opposes Affordable Care Act Repeal

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) spoke today on the House floor in opposition to Republican plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Her remarks as prepared for delivery are below and video can be found online here.

"Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are playing politics with millions of Americans' healthcare. In fact, if Republicans go forward with their plan to chaotically dismantle the Affordable Care Act, 30 million Americans will lose health insurance.

"In New York State alone, 1.6 million of our neighbors - who gained coverage through ACA - will see their health insurance taken away. And, 2.7 million New Yorkers who have enrolled in Medicaid could lose coverage.

"But let us remember that this is not just about New Yorkers. In fact, the sad irony is that many of the Americans who will be most devastated by repeal of this law are in the "red" states and counties -- the places that voted for President Elect Trump. Those areas have high numbers of Americans on the Medicaid rolls.

"Already, states like Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota and Georgia are putting Medicaid expansion on hold, waiting to see how action on the ACA plays out. That means half a million Americans will have to wait for health benefits.

"But let's keep in mind -- this is not just about Medicaid. And, it is not just about those who obtained coverage through the exchanges. What we need to remember is that all the elements of healthcare reform work together. If you start chipping away at one part of the system, you will see disasters in other parts of the market.

"This is about the young person, just out of college, who can stay on their parents' insurance until they turn 26, giving them time to secure employment and coverage on their own. It is about patients with a preexisting condition who, until the ACA, were barred from securing quality medical insurance.
It is about women who have -- time and again -- faced gender discrimination in the insurance market.

"Just this past Saturday, New Yorkers in my district rallied together to oppose Republican plans to roll back the ACA and "Make America Sick Again." We heard from our local hospitals and healthcare providers who talked about how they would be affected by a dramatic surge in charity care. Nationally, healthcare providers could get stuck with $88 billion in 2019 alone -- and $1.1 trillion from 2019 to 2028 in uncompensated care. This will strain resources and make it harder for them to provide care to all their patients.

"And, we heard from ordinary working people who have benefited from the ACA. People like Juana Alvarez who was able for the first time to secure coverage for her family through this law. We heard from Susan Maples who told us she would not have been able to start her own business without the health benefits afforded under the Affordable Care Act.

"These are the people Republicans are planning to harm with their irresponsible, chaotic and destructive attack on our health system.

"Now, let me also note this – the Republican slogan -- "repeal and replace" is a sham. What are they going to replace the ACA with? They have never – not once – put together a realistic, defensible plan to replace the ACA.

"The Republican plan is not "repeal and replace" – it should be called "repeal and DISPLACE" – because it will mean displacing millions of Americans from their health coverage.

"So, let's be clear – if you are voting to take away the ACA you are voting to take away health care from millions. And, for those who DO retain their employer-based coverage, you are voting to increase their premiums, as millions of healthy Americans are taken out of the insurance pool. This is a recipe for disaster. It is a plan to "Make America Sick Again" and it cannot stand!

"I urge my colleagues – think about what you are doing. Think about going home and looking in the eye your constituents and telling them you voted to take away their health coverage.

"Enough playing politics with healthcare! I yield back."