Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. WOMACK. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment, and count me as one who stands in support of the Trump administration's proposals for short-term, limited duration health plans and association health insurance plans.

With all due respect to my friend on the other side of the aisle, this has everything to do with giving our citizens options. These plans serve as an affordable alternative to ObamaCare health insurance plans, particularly for individuals and families not eligible for ObamaCare tax subsidies.

I have heard from countless small businesses in my district that say they can't afford health insurance for their employees. These alternative plans, Madam Chair, can and often do have lower premiums and deductibles and provide access to the same healthcare providers as some of the ObamaCare plans.

I believe that this amendment needs to be defeated, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. WOMACK. Madam Chair, I will finish by saying that all through this healthcare debate that we have had over the last 10 years--and I have been here 8\1/2\ years of that--it has all been about access to healthcare. This gentlewoman's amendment, Madam Chair, limits access to healthcare.

Either they want more access to healthcare or they don't. I think if my colleagues pass this amendment, Madam Chair, they are limiting access to healthcare. It is for that reason that I believe we should defeat the amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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