I can just recall as if it was only yesterday when Pedro Pierluisi and I enlisted the help of the congressional Hispanic Caucus and met with the President on this issue.

Loss of that funding puts healthcare delivery at risk--not just for Medicaid recipients in our islands, but for the population at large.

We cannot suffer cuts like that and continue to deliver services.

Supplemental funding for the Medicaid programs in our areas included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or 'Obamacare' as we like to call it, expires this year.

The Mariana Islands, which I represent, and the four other U.S. insular areas all face a Medicaid cliff at the end of this year.

Thank you very much for this series of hearings on issues that I hope will lead to the, a robust Higher Education Act reauthorization.

We expect to hold a hearing soon in this Committee on the impending Medicaid funding crisis, and I understand the Federal family is also concerned about the potential harm to our health systems.

I appreciate that the United States has provided leadership that countries in the Pacific look to for economic, political, and defense guidance.

I remember that day specifically. In fact, I have a photo highlighted in my district office where the Congressional Hispanic Caucus--Ms. Velazquez was there, Mr. Grijalva was there, then-Resident Commissioner Pierluisi and I and joined by…

I would like to see a Medicaid program that's no different from any of the other states and the District of Columbia.

In fact, I have a photo highlighted in my district office where the Congressional Hispanic Caucus--Ms. Velazquez was there, Mr. Grijalva was there, then-Resident Commissioner Pierluisi and I and joined by Senator Bob Menendez went to the…