DELAURO RESPONDS TO CUTS IN HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE FUNDING

Legislation attacking the Affordable Care Act passed the House today

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member on the Labor, Education, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement today in response to the passage by the House of Representatives of H.R. 1213, which will repeal grants to states, including one received by Connecticut, to help establish new health insurance marketplaces that would enable consumers and small businesses to choose their own private health insurance plans. Without these funds, many states will not be able to afford to set up their own competitive exchanges.

“These exchanges will give all Americans a chance to prosper from what Members of Congress and large employers have enjoyed for years: large group rates, lower administrative costs, and greater transparency. They also expand choices, giving everyone access to a much fuller range of health insurance plans, and will create real competition in the health industry, driving down costs.

“But like so much in the majority’s budget, this bill takes money out of families' pockets and gives it to the health insurance industry. And according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, it will knock two million people out of the exchanges in just one year, increase health insurance premiums and leave 50,000 more Americans uninsured. In fact, 85% of the so-called savings here comes from cutting off Americans’ access to health insurance.

“This is not the direction we want to go. We want to cover more people and reduce health care costs-- this bill raises premiums and it raises the number of uninsured in America. I was proud to vote against this reckless and unfair piece of legislation today, and will keep fighting to ensure that all Americans will have access to the health care they need and deserve.”