Val Demings: “I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), Mr. Richmond, and all of the distinguished members of…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), Mr. Richmond, and all of the distinguished members of the Congressional Black Caucus for leading this very important and critical conversation and discussion this evening. President Trump said it couldn't get any worse for the African- American community. He asked the question: What did we have to lose by supporting him? {time} 2000 Well, it is even clearer now that we have everything to lose, starting with health care. Marian Wright Edelman said: ``The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child, but it is whether we can afford not to.'' Health care, we all know, is one of the most important investments we can make in our children. Nearly 12 million African Americans are insured through Medicaid. In Florida, 41 percent of children, in my home State of Florida are covered through Medicaid. This GOP healthcare plan guts Medicaid, cutting funding by $880 billion over the next 10 years. It also eliminates Medicaid expansion, which covers 1.5 million African Americans. So what do we have to lose? Families, children, will lose their health care. For those who do not lose health care, they will be forced to pay higher premiums. That, for some families, could mean the difference between a doctor's visit and food on the table. Since the ACA was signed into law 7 years ago this Thursday, our community has seen its insured rate increase to the highest number in recent history.…”