On the recordSeptember 19, 2019
I thank Chairwoman Lowey, and I thank the leadership for bringing this CR and health extenders legislation to the floor. The bill contains critical Medicaid relief for my district, the Virgin Islands. It extends the disaster-related 100 percent Federal funding to sustain Medicaid on our islands through November 21. While the territories are part of America, and we are American citizens, Federal law unfairly places Medicaid funding caps on the islands--unlike the States, where funding is open-ended--and it requires them to pay a much greater percentage of Medicaid than the States. Supplemental funding has only been provided on a temporary basis. Without the fix in this bill, the rate of Federal funding would plummet nearly 50 percentage points to the permanent, capped level of 55 percent. Cuts to that funding put basic healthcare at risk for many Americans living on our islands. The fundamental problem is that the U.S. territories are forced to operate Medicaid under capped funding. A more equitable matching rate is needed on a permanent basis. I know that the Energy and Commerce Committee has done so in its legislation. We are hopeful that when we work on a final budget, that will take place. I have sponsored legislation, H.R. 1354, to remove these caps permanently. I thank everyone for advancing this cause and this CR.
