DeLauro to Congress: Reject the Republican Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, DC (March 24, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today spoke on the House Floor to call on Congress to reject the Republican health care proposal, which would kick 24 million Americans off of their health care plans and raises premiums and deductibles, all while giving the wealthiest Americans a major tax cut.

Click here to watch the full remarks.

Here are the remarks, as delivered:

The health care proposal, proposed by President Trump and Speaker Ryan, raises premiums and deductibles. It imposes an age tax on older Americans, making their health care unaffordable. It throws millions, 24 million Americans, off of their insurance.

It shifts the cost of health care to the states and it covers less and less people. It raises people's fears and insecurity about what they will do if they get sick. It ends maternity care.

It is quite outrageous when it tells you that you can't go for emergency services any longer. It would allow insurance companies to once again re-impose lifetime limits and annual caps.

It allows insurance companies to charge women 48 percent more for the same insurance that any man would pay for.

So why would you be for this? Why? Who benefits? Who benefits?

We are going to provide 400 of the richest families in this nation with a $7 million tax cut every year. Those are not my words. Take a look at what Families USA says. Take a look what the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities says about that.

Working people, older Americans are going to pay for a tax cut for the richest people in this nation. Older Americans are going to be hit the hardest. Not only are they going to get an age tax, but they are going to shift the $170 billion out of the Medicare trust fund—a lifeline for older Americans.

You know what? It makes me believe that this is the case. What does the GOP stand for? Get old people. That's what this bill does. That's what people are going to vote ‘yes' for today. And let me just say this, we have an obligation, we have an obligation to the people of this country to vote ‘no' today on this misrepresented bill!