DeLauro Speaks Against Repealing Health Care Reform

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, made the following remarks on the floor of the United States House of Representatives today:

As Prepared for Delivery Yesterday men and women from all across America came here to tell us what repeal of health care would mean for them.

Stacie Ritter of Lancaster, Pennsylvania told us how her 11-year-old twin daughters were both diagnosed with leukemia at the age of four. She explained how the Affordable Care Act finally ensured her daughters could get the coverage and care they need.

Claudette Therriault of Sabbattus, Maine told us how health care reform had given her access to critical preventive care – the type of care that saves money and lives. Ed Burke of Palm Harbor, Florida, told us how the prohibition on lifetime caps had brought security and peace of mind after years of living with a disease.

We hear stories like this every day, in my district and all across America. Yesterday, a report found that up to 129 million Americans under 65 have pre-existing conditions and could lose their coverage if reform is repealed. I understand their fears. I too have a pre-existing condition; I am an ovarian cancer survivor.

The Center for American Progress reports that repeal would add almost $2000 a year to family insurance premiums, destroy up to 400,000 jobs a year over the next decade, and the Congressional Budget Office says repeal would add $230 billion to the deficit.

Repeal will take away valuable benefits, destroy jobs, cause premiums to rise, and add billions to the deficit. If my colleagues across the aisle will not listen to the facts and numbers, then listen to the poignant stories of their, and our, constituents.

What will happen to Stacie's twins, Claudette, Ed, and millions of other Americans if health care reform is repealed? What will happen to children with pre-existing conditions? To seniors in the donut hole? To small businesses trying to help their employees find quality health insurance?

Repeal is a mistake. We should work to further strengthen our health care system, not roll back all the hard-won progress we have already made. Health care should not be a political game.