Mark Takano: “I thank my California colleague for yielding to me and thank Congresswoman Rivas for co-hosting, and I thank…”

“I thank my California colleague for yielding to me and thank Congresswoman Rivas for co-hosting, and I thank Congresswoman Emily Randall from Washington for also co-hosting this important Congressional Progressive Caucus Special Order hour. Now, we are here because this heretofore do-nothing Republican Congress has let 22 million Americans get priced out of their healthcare. I learned of a coffeehouse owner in Riverside, a good friend of mine, whose health insurance went from $600 a month to $1,100 a month. We are here because my Republican colleagues think our national budget is too tight to ensure that our seniors and families can afford healthcare, but it is flush enough with enough cash to fund escapades in Venezuela and billions of new spending on ICE and giving billionaires permanent tax cuts. We are here because Democrats are the ones that are keeping healthcare front and center for this body. Republicans wish we would stop talking about this, that we would stop bringing it up, but we will not stop because healthcare is vital. It is essential to every American.”