Correcting the Enrollment of H.R. 1473

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the enactment of the Affordable Care Act was historic. It made the necessary steps to reform our health care delivery system and put patients first. A full repeal of this law will nullify all of the popular provisions it put in place, and will once again leave Americans at the mercy of insurance companies.

Young adults in their 20s who are looking for jobs in this difficult economic climate, for instance, would suddenly find themselves without insurance and without the option of staying on their parent's plan.

Recently, I heard from Michael, a Sacramento native. Michael has a 23-year-old son who was kicked off of his health plan at the age of 22. A few months later, still unable to obtain affordable coverage, he had to undergo an emergency tonsillectomy--a fairly common procedure that can cost thousands for those without coverage. Because Michael's son was kicked off of his plan his son now has massive medical debt and is still only in his early twenties.

Mr. Speaker, we passed the Affordable Care Act last Congress because our health care system needed to be reformed. We spend $2 trillion a year on health care costs--far more than any other country--and we are by no means a healthier nation; far from it!

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle say they are for reducing spending. Well, Mr. Speaker, repealing the Affordable Care Act will only increase the amount we spend every year on health care, both at the federal level, and on the personal level. It will leave millions without insurance and end up costing all of us more.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this harmful legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source