But focusing on HSAs while avoiding an honest conversation about the key drivers of health care costs could have real negative impacts on real people who are simply trying to manage an illness or care for a sick loved one.

HSAs are premised on a consumer's ability to shop around for the best value.

I am worried that HSAs, an idea that has merit for some well-off consumers, are being twisted into a quick fix that will only exacerbate the challenges in New Mexico such as our ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic.

We must focus on actions that can actually bend the cost curve, like investing in preventive care, using the government's purchasing power to lower drug prices, and paying for quality of care rather than quantity.

I think that is an area of commonality here, that I hear, that transparency is key to people making good decisions.

For every time I hear about HSAs, I hear ten times about premium inflation, obviously, and premiums are projected to increase by about 15 percent next year, at least according to CBO.

I am looking forward to today's discussion on health savings accounts.

As stewards of the American economy, we need to be careful.

But my chief concern is this: part of the reason we are here today is that our Republican colleagues seem to be gearing up for yet another attempt to repeal the ACA.

I would agree with you wholeheartedly, with the exception of one issue. To have that world exist, we actually have to have the infrastructure to be able to access telemedicine and virtual medicine in those rural areas.

thank you, Senator Heinrich, for your leadership in working to repeal the tax.

I can assure you, my constituents do not.

I find that OLC opinion extremely alarming.

I want to thank you for going down, as you have done with other natural disasters in New Mexico.

Each backlogged permit represents New Mexicans losing out on good-paying jobs and rural communities losing out on economic growth.

We need to get some answers here, because we cannot just push back on estimates that are being put forth.

Thank you for the indulgence of allowing me to sit on the Committee today.

The traditional idea is that war at its base is an extension of politics.