Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican effort to gut the Affordable Care Act. Twenty million people, including 100,000 Rhode Islanders, receive health coverage under the ACA. Because of the proposed plan to repeal the ACA that the Republicans are proposing, they are now threatened with losing that coverage. Instead of working in a bipartisan manner to improve the law, this bill will eliminate coverage for 24 million people, while drastically increasing healthcare costs on hardworking middle class Americans. Over the next 5 years, Rhode Island officials estimate Medicaid cuts would cost the State $595 million to make sure that 75,000 low-income adults don't lose coverage. Now, this is a burden that my State or others cannot afford to bear, and it will decimate services and supports for low- and middle-income adults, children, seniors, and especially people with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, we are better than this as a country. Americans' health will be jeopardized if consumer protections and comprehensive coverage developed under the ACA are cast aside in a partisan push to repeal. Let's not do this. Let's join together instead and make improvements to the ACA to make it better. Let's not work against us to repeal it. I urge my colleagues to oppose this unconscionable bill. ____________________”