On the recordFebruary 6, 2020
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full Committee on Energy and Commerce for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 826. Over the last 3 years, the Trump administration has deliberately and repeatedly sabotaged the Affordable Care Act. This has led to higher healthcare costs for low- and middle-income Americans. This has also led to an increase in the number of uninsured Americans, including those in my home State of Illinois. As such, Mr. Speaker, it is not surprising to me that the administration is, once again, attacking vulnerable Americans' healthcare. We have not forgotten that our colleagues across the aisle tried and failed to force through the Medicaid block grant in the year 2017. It failed, Mr. Speaker, because the American people saw the plan for what it was: a way to weaken the Medicaid program. Under this latest proposal, just like TrumpCare, much of the financial burden would shift to States. States, Mr. Speaker, would be forced to reduce benefits, kick vulnerable Americans off Medicaid, and siphon funds from other priorities, including schools, roads, and first responders. Mr. Speaker, healthcare is a human right, and we cannot and we will not stand idly by if this right is taken away from the most vulnerable among us. As such, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to vote in favor of this resolution to express my disapproval of the Trump administration's Medicaid block grant plan.





