Political Quotes

“Today we rise to debate irresponsible legislation cloaked in fiscal responsibility, legislation that will assuredly put the nation's public health at risk. Today's debate is not one over concerns of mandatory funding for our nation's public health investments, it is another shot at the Affordable Care Act. Our health system is inherently designed to provide treatment for the sick and ill, but does not currently contain the incentives necessary to keep consumers from becoming sick in the first place. Just two years ago total health expenditures in the U.S. was $2.5 trillion, and only 3 percent of that funding was spent on preventive health care services and health promotion. If we want to cut down on the costs of hospitalizations and inappropriate emergency room visits, we have to help American families better manage their chronic diseases like diabetes or asthma and help them stay well through vaccines and screenings. This was the purpose behind the Prevention and Public Health Fund--to make a strong investment into prevention and wellness programs and promote innovative prevention that will help to save our health system costs in the long run. And now we are seeing the good work that the Prevention and Public Health Fund is doing in our states.…”