Providing for Consideration of H.R. 45, Repeal of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gen tle lady for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the rule and the underlying legislation.
Well, here we go again. In fact, I've lost count of how many times we've had to vote on a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
The underlying legislation before us today would deny my constituents and the American people access to affordable health care. It would increase health costs and reduce benefits for millions of American families.
It's particularly ironic that during Older Americans Month, we are here voting on a bill that will eliminate benefits to seniors, including preventive services and savings on prescription drugs.
It would allow insurance companies to deny coverage to Americans with preexisting conditions, drop coverage when people get sick, reinstitute lifetime limits on coverage and charge people more based merely on gender.
The Affordable Care Act has already created long-lasting benefits for many of my constituents, including Theresa, a single mother of four whose youngest child is 20 and lives with a preexisting condition. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, Theresa was personally spending over $10,000 a year to pay for her care. Her daughter's medical condition prevented her from attending college. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, she was able to be added back on to her mother's health plan. This has meant tremendous savings for Theresa, who was worried she might lose her home, along with the care her daughter desperately needed.
A vote against this rule and against the underlying legislation is a vote to protect our constituents from unfair insurance company practices, to provide relief to Americans, young and old alike, to protect job growth and creation, and for a fiscally responsible future. It is time for this Congress to move forward, not backwards.
I urge my colleagues to vote down this rule and the underlying legislation.
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