Political Quotes

“Across the country, communities are struggling with an epidemic of opioid addiction, abuse, and overdose; and across party lines, we all agree something must be done to address this crisis. But the repeal-and-replace plan proposed by my Republican colleagues adds fuel to the fire. The bill eliminates the Affordable Care Act's requirement that Medicaid cover basic mental health and addiction services. Economists estimate 1.3 million Americans receive treatment for substance abuse and other mental health disorders through the Medicaid extension. Across the States that have expanded Medicaid, like Illinois, the program is used for 27 percent of all addiction treatment. We are not going to arrest our way out of this epidemic; instead, we need to treat addiction like the disease that it is. Removing the mental health coverage requirement pulls the rug out from more than a quarter of all those seeking help from opioid addiction. Mr. Speaker, opioids now kill more Americans than car accidents. The Affordable Care Act offers hope and is saving lives. The Republican efforts to repeal the ACA is a bleak step backwards. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this legislation. ____________________”