Press Releases

I thank the Gentleman from Texas for the customary 30 minutes and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

And I rise in strong opposition to this closed rule and to the underlying bill.

Well, M. Speaker, here we are again, back on the House floor with yet another pointless attempt by the Republican Majority to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Today’s exercise in time-wasting gamesmanship marks the 56^th time that we have been down this well-traveled road.  56.  That’s 2 score and 16. It’s 4 and ½ dozen. 

But no matter how you add it up, it has to be some sort of World Record in political futility.

So it’s tempting to say that nothing has changed.  But that’s not exactly true.

Because in fact a great deal HAS changed since my Republican Colleagues first tried to repeal the ACA.

Here are some of the things that have changed:

The number of uninsured Americans has dropped by about 10 million people.

3 million young adults have been able to gain coverage through a parent’s plan.

Insurance companies can no longer discriminate on the basis of a so-called pre-existing condition, like, say, being a woman.

Lifetime limits and caps on coverage have been eliminated.

Seniors have saved more than $11 Billion in prescription drugs – an average of $1400 per Medicare beneficiary.

Co-pays and deductibles for preventive services for Medicare patients have been eliminated, and the solvency Medicare Trust Fund has been extended by 13 years.

And the growth in health care spending in this country is the slowest on record while health care price inflation is at its lowest rate in 50 years.

All that has happened thanks to the Affordable Care Act.  And if the Republicans get their way, much of it will disappear in instant.

If the Republicans get their way, millions of Americans would lose their health care coverage.  Millions more would lose the subsidies they’ve received to purchase plans.

Millions of children would lose CHIP coverage.  Millions of seniors would lose benefits.  And the deficit would increase.

So let’s be crystal clear, M. Speaker – this is no longer a theoretical political exercise.

This is very, very real.  If this bill were ever to become law, then real people would see real benefits taken away.

That is why President Obama has said very plainly that he would veto this bill if it ever reached his desk.

And there’s something else new about this 56^th version of Republicans banging their heads against a brick wall.

For the first time, according to Politico, QUOTE: “House Republicans want to postpone the full repeal of Obamacare for six months to allow time to come up with a replacement plan.” END QUOTE.

I have to say, M. Speaker, when I read that I actually laughed out loud.

The health care crisis in this country has been happening For YEARS and YEARS.  Decades.  How many studies have been done?  How many reports issued? How many hearings and debates and news stories? 

But after all that, my Republican friends still need another six months to come up with a replacement plan? 

Here’s an idea – let’s vote down this rule with the understanding that in 6 months – actually, I’ll give you 7, until after Labor Day – that in 7 months you’ll be back here with your magic replacement plan, which I assume will be flown in on a unicorn sliding down a rainbow.

I’ll tell you why, M. Speaker – because the Republicans have absolutely no intention of actually doing the hard work of health care reform.

This is just a gimmick.  It’s a chance for their new freshman to cast their symbolic vote against Obamacare so they can put out their press releases and act like they accomplished something.

As the Washington Examiner reported, “Republicans know the repeal legislation isn’t ever going to become law. “We’re just getting it out of the way,” one GOP aide told the Examiner when asked about the repeal vote.”

Just getting it out of the way, M. Speaker.  What a cynical abuse of this House.

It’s a sham.  It’s a waste of everyone’s time.  It deserves to be defeated in this House.  And if it ever makes it out of the Senate, it deserves the quickest veto President Obama can muster.  I reserve the balance of my time.