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Passes
American
Health Care Act
C-SPAN
House Speaker Paul Ryan
Speaker Ryan: Today Is The Day To Lead
WASHINGTON—Today, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) delivered the following statement on the House floor in support of the American Health Care Act, which will repeal and replace Obamacare. Below are the speaker’s full remarks as prepared for delivery:
“I want to thank all the committee chairs who took up this bill: Chairman Walden, Chairman Brady, Chairman Black, and Chairman Sessions. I want to thank the members of those committees: Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Budget, and Rules. I want to thank all the members who made constructive contributions throughout this process.
“I want to thank the President of the United States for his steadfast leadership. In his address in this chamber, he called on Congress to act, and today we take the next step to repeal and replace Obamacare. I want to thank Vice President Pence, Secretary Price, Director Mulvaney, and their teams.
“My colleagues, there is a fundamental—and urgent—choice at the heart of this debate. We can continue with the status quo under Obamacare. We know that looks like. It means even higher premiums, even fewer choices, even more insurance companies pulling out, even more uncertainty, even more chaos.
“Look at what has happened in Iowa this week. As is the case in so many areas in this country, Iowa is down to one insurer. That, of course, is not a choice.
“But now that one insurer is saying it will have to pull out of 94 of the 99 counties in Iowa. So tens of thousands of Iowans will go from one option to no options. That is not a choice. It is a crisis. And it is happening right now.
“What protection is Obamacare if there is no health plan to purchase in your state? This is the direction Obamacare is rapidly heading. So we can continue with this status quo, or we can put Obamacare behind us. End this failed experiment.
“Let’s make it easier for people to afford their insurance. Let’s give people more choices and more control over their care. Let’s make insurance companies come in and compete for your business. Let’s return power from Washington to the states. Let’s help people get real peace of mind. Let’s put the patient—not the bureaucrats—at the heart of the system.
“This bill does all of these things. It delivers on the promises we have made to the American people. Yes, many of us have been waiting seven years to cast this vote. But many of us are here because we pledged to cast this very vote. To repeal and replace Obamacare. To rescue people from this collapsing law.
“Are we going to meet this test? Are we going to be men and women of our word? Are we going to keep the promises that we have made? Or are we going to falter?
“After all this—after seeing what is happening in Iowa and around the country—are we going to leave this collapsing law in place, knowing all the turmoil this country will face? My answer is no.
“Today is not that day. Today, this House has the opportunity to do more than simply fulfill a promise. We have the opportunity to raise our gaze, and set a bold course for our country. To show we have the resolve to tackle the big challenges before they tackle us. To stop the drift of arrogant, big-government policies in our lives. And begin a new era of reform based on liberty and self-determination. Today is the day to lead.
“So let’s pass this bill to take the next step to put Obamacare
behind us. Let’s pass this bill to build a better health care system
for American families. Let’s pass this bill to leave this country
better than we found it. That is what is really at stake today. That is
why I will be proud to cast my vote for this legislation. And I urge my
colleagues to do the same.”
Republican National Committee
RNC Statement on Passing of the American Healthcare Act
"Republicans have taken an important first step toward fixing our healthcare system. Obamacare is falling apart and has saddled the American people with rising costs, less choice, and skyrocketing premiums. The time to act is now, and that's exactly what Republicans have done. President Trump promised voters he would fix our healthcare system; and with the help of House Republicans, the American Healthcare Act sets us on a course to fix what the Democrats broke. Republicans are committed to lowering costs, fostering competition in the marketplace, and giving Americans everywhere access to quality and truly affordable healthcare. Democrats in Washington now have a clear choice: they can continue to fight against the American people to protect Obamacare's failures, or they work with Republicans to fix it."
National Republican Congressional Committee
MEMO:
To: Interested Parties
From: Matt Gorman, NRCC Communications Director
RE: Passage of the American Health Care Act
The American people expected us to deliver on the promises we’ve made and that’s what House Republicans have just done.
With the House’s passage of the American Health Care Act, the era of Obamacare is officially coming to an end.
For many in Washington, it’s far too refreshing when members of Congress actually do what they say they will do. But it shouldn’t be.
Since 2010, voters sent a Republican House majority to Washington to repeal Obamacare and rein in the size of a bloated federal government. After running on this issue for years, the time for results has come.
Today, Republicans provided much-needed relief to the American people from the crushing weight of Obamacare.
Obamacare was a bad law when it was passed and it’s even more of a disaster now that we’ve fully seen its effects. Government involvement in healthcare decisions is not the answer. It’s time to put patients in the driver’s seat.
The American Health Care Act provides higher quality, more affordable healthcare options to patients; gives consumers more choices; and dismantles the litany of Obamacare’s taxes that have stifled our economy.
Just in recent days we’ve seen news of numerous insurers leaving state markets and giving consumers fewer choices. That’s not only unacceptable, it’s unsustainable.
Over the next year on the campaign trail, Democrats must answer why they stand in opposition to providing any relief at all from this unmitigated disaster of a law. Many in their party even push for a European-style single payer system that would raise taxes for the middle class, could completely abolish the VA, and control your doctor, hospital, and medications.
Democrats—who are committed to protecting both the status quo and this failed law—have taken to spreading falsehoods about the bill.
Let’s be incredibly clear: This bill also protects those with pre-existing conditions, allows young people to remain on their family plan until the age of 26, and strengthens Medicaid.
Nothing in this bill changes any existing law that prevents people from being charged based on their health status. Moreover, states may only obtain a limited waiver from the current law if they have set up risk-sharing or reinsurance mechanisms for people in their respective states. People with pre-existing conditions who live in a state that obtains a limited waiver and have maintained continuous coverage, cannot be charged more.
Though the NRCC certainly is grateful to those who supported the bill, we recognize that not all in our party did. We constantly tell our candidates and members that, above all, they need to listen to and fit the districts they represent. No one has a better understanding of their constituents than them.
No matter where they voted today, the NRCC supports our members and will be behind them 100 percent in 2018 as we continue to expand our Republican majority.
This is a proud day for our party and our country. Republicans have been fighting Obamacare for almost a decade. Today, we have taken our first steps toward finally repealing this failed law.
Democratic National Committee
Perez on Trumpcare Vote
“More than 60 times over the last seven years, House Republicans voted to repeal protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Today, they voted again to repeal those and more protections. For some Americans, Trumpcare will mean bankruptcy. For others, it will be a death sentence.
“Trump promised he wouldn’t take away health care from anyone. He lied. Trump promised he wouldn’t take away protections for people with pre-existing conditions. He lied. Trump promised not to cut Medicaid. He lied.
“My dad died of a heart attack when I was 12. But he lived long enough to teach me that our country’s greatness lies in its compassion. Instead of showing compassion, Trump and Republicans spat in the face of human decency. The DNC, Democrats across the country, and the millions of Americans who will be harmed by Trumpcare if it passes the Senate will hold them accountable.”
If Trumpcare becomes law:
- 24 million Americans will be stripped of healthcare coverage.
- Planned Parenthood will be defunded, make it more difficult for millions of women to access critical health services.
- Premiums on older Americans will skyrocket.
- Individuals with pre-existing conditions will be subject to faulty and expensive high-risk pools.
- Insurance companies will be able institute lifetime limits on coverage, even on those with chronic illnesses.
DCCC Chair Ben Ray Luján Statement on House Republicans Passing Indefensible Repeal & Ripoff Bill
In response to House Republicans passing their morally bankrupt and politically disastrous repeal bill, DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján released the following statement:
“House Republicans just voted to increase your health insurance premiums and deductibles, toss 24 million Americans off of their insurance, and to slap you with an age tax if you’re age 50 to 64 – and they robbed Medicare while doing it. If that’s not bad enough, House Republicans also voted to let health insurance companies charge you more if you have a preexisting condition. That means if you, your kids, or your parents are sick with cancer, diabetes or any other illness, insurance will not be affordable.“There is no question that this bill will cause incredible pain for hardworking Americans, particularly those fighting to make ends meet. Make no mistake about it: every single House Republican bears the responsibility for this heartless legislation, and the passage of this bill will haunt them through Election Day.”
DCCC Launches Digital Ad Campaign Hitting Vulnerable Republicans on the Morally Bankrupt Repeal & Ripoff
Digital Ads to run on Facebook and Instagram in 30 targeted
districts
In response to the House Republicans passing their disastrous Repeal & Ripoff bill, the DCCC is immediately launching digital ads today in thirty Republican-held districts. The ads will run on Facebook and Instagram in order to expose what is in this bill and why it’s a terrible deal for hardworking Americans, and they will be hitting vulnerable Republicans whether or not they voted for the bill today. This is just the beginning of a robust ad campaign with more to come next week.
“Kicking 24 million people off their healthcare insurance, increasing costs, slapping an age tax on folks above 50 and destroying protections for people with pre-existing conditions will go down in infamy as one of the most heartless acts ever passed through Congress,” said DCCC Spokesman Tyler Law. “This digital ad campaign will educate voters in targeted districts about this morally bankrupt repeal.”
Main Street Alliance
Trumpcare Tramples Small Businesses
GOP repeal bill strips health care from millions to finance $600 billion tax giveaway to corporations, wealthiest. Small business owners say this bill is not only immoral, but also hurts their businesses.
“Today’s vote is a shameful display of partisan politics at its worst. Despite unprecedented outrage from constituents, House Republicans voted to take health care away from 24 million Americans, cut essential health care benefits, abandon Americans with pre-existing conditions, slash Medicaid, and raise health care costs for all families – all of this to give over $600 billion in tax breaks to the very wealthy and the big insurance and drug companies.
“The economic and human impacts of this bill on Main Street Alliance small businesses can’t be overstated – it would kill the local economies small business owners rely on to keep their doors open. Millions of people who own or work in small businesses would face losing their health care as a result of the vote today – the 4 million small business owners, employees, and self-employed entrepreneurs that gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, and the additional 6.1 million small business workers that enrolled in Medicaid as part of its expansion.
“Plus, it radically restructures Medicaid, over time cutting services to seniors, children and people with disabilities and shifting huge financial burdens to the state budget. To compensate for these funding cuts, states would likely have no choice but to institute their own draconian cuts to eligibility, benefits, and provider payments. This means that 21 million people would lose Medicaid health care, many of them small business owners, and 3.1 million jobs would be lost.
“The President and Republicans say they support small businesses, the economic backbone and job creators of communities across the country. They said they would cover everybody and reduce costs. But instead, this bill would take us back to the days when insurance companies made all the rules. It takes health care away from at least 24 million Americans, raises costs, guts consumer protections from insurance company abuses, leaves Americans with pre-existing conditions at the whim of insurance companies, and makes radical, permanent cuts to Medicaid.
“This bill leaves small business owners in a terrible position, one they were all too familiar with before the ACA – unable to afford premium hikes year to year, unsure their employees will be healthy and able to work, and uncertain of the future of their businesses.
The Republican repeal bill doesn’t improve America’s health care – it wrecks it.
The Senate should reject this bill.”
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Copyright © 2017 Eric M.
Appleman/Democracy in
Action.
All rights reserved.