Frank Pallone: “Mr. Speaker, I just have to correct two comments that were made by my Republican colleagues. First, the sponsor of the…”

“Mr. Speaker, I just have to correct two comments that were made by my Republican colleagues. First, the sponsor of the bill said that they are just talking about Federal funds. The fact of the matter is, they are not just talking about Federal funds because this bill prevents States like Washington State--we had two people speak about this--from using State funds for gender-affirming care for minors. It is not just a prohibition on Federal funds. Also, my chairman from Kentucky kept saying that the healthcare bill that the Republicans put on the floor yesterday would lower costs and somehow address the healthcare crisis. It does not. It does not lower costs, and it certainly doesn't extend the tax credits that are necessary under the Affordable Care Act to lower costs. Those expire January 1. Mr. Speaker, I know the sponsor from Texas also mentioned medical professional organizations that oppose this bill, and there are many, but I include in the Record a letter from four of those organizations: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, and American Psychiatric Association.”