Sheila Jackson Lee: “Let me make a proclamation here on the floor of the House, and that is that all the sweat and tears of the Democratic…”

“Let me make a proclamation here on the floor of the House, and that is that all the sweat and tears of the Democratic Members, although we offered the opportunity to our Republican friends to do something about healthcare, all of our sweat and tears proved to be a successful response to the 25 million uninsured Americans. No matter how much our friends on the other side of the aisle try to nitpick and pick away at a successful affordable care program, they simply cannot do it. To the American people: It worked. It worked because we included and supported healthcare for children with CHIP. It worked because we supported and expanded community health centers. It worked because we had IPAB, which is not going to be in effect until 2021 and not to do anything but preserve Medicare. On the other hand, today we have a pronounced tax bill that will jeopardize the Medicare trust fund, will take millions and billions away from Medicaid. The last hammer in the coffin will be the destruction of the Children's Health Insurance Program and community health clinics. Let me be very clear: I happen to be in an area in the southern part of Texas, from Corpus to Port Aransas, to Rockport, to Beaumont, to Houston and Harris County, where Hurricane Harvey devastated our community. Healthcare is crucial. Many of our hospitals were under water. People were not able to access healthcare. The community health clinics are the best neighborhood source of healthcare.…”