Floor Statement - Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Repeal of Healthcare Reform
(WASHINGTON, DC)– Mister Speaker, two weeks ago, on the floor of this House, my colleagues read the Constitution of the United States, in its entirety. Well, my friends, reading the Constitution is one thing; living up to it is another. Reading those words written in 1787 by a committee of the Federal Convention should remind us that the sacred text implores and empowers us to provide for and protect the American people. Yet, today the majority party in this House will turn its attention to the repeal of vital health care reforms passed into law last year that gave 95% of Americans the opportunity to have access to quality and affordable healthcare. What could be at greater odds with the Constitution’s commitment to provide for the General Welfare than the repeal of a law that provides greater coverage for children, prohibits discrimination against pre-existing conditions, and strengthens our commitment to our seniors? This is a show of politics that flies in the face of our directive to serve the best interest of our nation.
What does this repeal of healthcare mean? What does it mean for those in my district? Upon careful examination, it means that health insurance companies will be allowed to deny coverage to hundreds of thousands of individuals, including up to 38,000 children, with pre-existing conditions in my district alone. It means eliminating health care tax credits for up to 12,000 small businesses and 132,000 families. It means increasing prescription drug costs for 6,400 seniors who hit the Part D drug “donut hole” and denying new preventive care benefits to 76,000 seniors. It means increasing the number of people without health insurance by 48,000 individuals. What this means to me, the constituents in my district and those across the country, is that this is completely unacceptable.
My republican colleagues claim that healthcare reform was a government takeover. In actuality, healthcare reform expands private health insurance in America and allows individuals to choose the insurance plan that is right for them in an entirely new market called the Health Insurance Exchange.
Our nation is watching as we begin our vital work in this new Congress. I hope that Americans can listen to this debate and see the difference between rhetoric for the sake of political points as compared to actions that will protect the well being of our nation. Let’s implement the ideals of the Constitution rather than simply citing them.