On the recordMarch 9, 2017
I rise this morning to share with my constituents what we know about the Republican healthcare plan and, more importantly, what we don't know. We know that the Republican proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act will cut taxes for the wealthiest people in America. We know that it will eventually eliminate the Medicaid expansion, which is responsible for ensuring millions of Americans, including nearly 80,000 people in my district alone. We know that the GOP replacement plan shifts costs to seniors and low-income families while restricting women's access to reproductive health. We know that it is a windfall for the healthy and wealthy and a disaster for nearly everyone else. Now, this is what we know about the GOP healthcare plan, but perhaps more alarming is what we don't know. My Republican colleagues cannot answer the two most important questions about their proposal: How much will it cost and how many people will it cover? Mr. Speaker, Congress should not take any further action on this bill without knowing its impact on the budget and its consequences for the American people. I am stunned--stunned--that my Republican colleagues are planning to move forward on a plan that is, quite literally, a matter of life and death for millions of American families without knowing exactly what they are moving forward with. Mr.…
