State Health Care Premium Reduction Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Madam Speaker, last week, as COVID-19 cases continued to spread, even reaching historic highs, and as the number of Americans killed by this virus rose well above 100,000, Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act. If Trump and Republicans got their way, millions of Americans would immediately lose their health insurance in the middle of a pandemic, with no alternative available.

Ending the ACA is life-threatening, especially as we battle COVID-19. That is why I am proud to support the Affordable Care Enhancement Act. This bill would build on the success of the ACA by expanding tax credits to ensure more Americans have access to health insurance, not fewer. And it expands eligibility for these credits so that Dreamers can access affordable healthcare as well, something we know will benefit entire communities.

The coronavirus does not discriminate, and neither should we.

Critically, this bill undoes the Trump administration's expansion of junk insurance plans, which offer minimal coverage and leave patients with massive bills when they do get sick; because, while access to healthcare is essential, it must be affordable.

That is why it is so important that this bill also includes language from H.R. 3, the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This will lower prescription drug prices by allowing the government to negotiate for those prices, bringing our prescription drug prices in line with what they cost overseas.

This bill puts the health of the American people first when we need it most. I am proud to support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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