Lynn C. Woolsey: “Fewer Americans have access to insurance and health care. The House appropriately invested in immediate and preventive…”

“Fewer Americans have access to insurance and health care. The House appropriately invested in immediate and preventive care. The Senate bill cuts $5.8 billion that was directed towards grants and contracts to prevent illness through health screenings, through education; malnutrition, immunization, nutrition counseling; media campaigns and other activities related to health. The House actually had set aside $3 billion for prevention and wellness, and furthermore, the Senate version cut $5 billion that is intended to help unemployed workers pay for health insurance, reducing the Federal subsidy under COBRA coverage to 50 percent from 66 percent. That's something I have no idea how somebody can be out of work, living on unemployment, and afford COBRA. I mean that would eat up one whole person's unemployment or both family members that are working. So, practically speaking, the Senate bill ignores the fact that many States who have unemployment insurance benefits that are covering or need to cover the newly unemployed workers will receive less money for the unemployed workers and for pay for food or housing, and that's going to really wipe out our States. And then individuals who have to pay COBRA health coverage, that wipes them out, and we're not going to help them if you don't change that in the conference. So that's health care that's not going to be supported like it should.”