Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican effort to gut the Affordable Care Act, an effort that will result in millions of people across the country and tens of thousands of my constituents in Rhode Island to lose their health coverage, and it will ultimately result in costs rising. Before the ACA was passed, the House held 79 hearings over the course of a year. Today's Republican plan was pushed through three committees without a single hearing and with substantial changes being made behind closed doors in the dead of night. Mr. Speaker, I am a veteran of many healthcare debates, and I can tell you this is not how sound policy is made, especially policy that will have real consequences for hardworking Americans. Since the passage of the ACA, I have had faith that Republicans and Democrats could come together to strengthen the law and further improve healthcare for all Americans. There is still that opportunity to come together, Mr. Speaker, but the rule, along with the underlying bill, has shaken that faith. Supporting the rule means putting ideology above the well-being of the American people. This does not have to be a zero-sum game. I know that we can come together. Let's defeat this rule and the bill. Come together in a bipartisan way to fix the problems of the ACA. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard).”