Bill Lee: “First let me thank Congressman Veasey for his tireless work to protect healthcare for all people. Also to Congresswoman…”

“First let me thank Congressman Veasey for his tireless work to protect healthcare for all people. Also to Congresswoman Plaskett, I thank the gentlewoman for continuing to speak out, to organize us, and for her stellar representation of her district. Let me also thank Congressman Richmond, Chair of the CBC, for his steadfast leadership on so many issues. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago Republicans unveiled their dangerous plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. A plan the CBO confirmed would rip healthcare away from 24 million Americans. This week--on the 7th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act--their terrible plan will make it to the House Floor. Mr. Speaker, one thing is clear: the proposal Republicans wrote in secret backrooms would be a disaster for struggling families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Their proposal would mean 24 million fewer people with health insurance and 2 million jobs lost. Their plan defunds Planned Parenthood and rations healthcare for low- income Americans. It would make working people sicker, in order to provide a $600 billion tax giveaway for billionaires. We know who this plan will devastate the most: communities of color, especially African Americans. By ending Medicaid as we know it, at least 1.5 million low-income African Americans could lose their coverage. And millions more would lose access to high-quality healthcare with the elimination of the ACA's marketplace. Mr. Speaker, this is outrageous.…”