Rosa DeLauro Examines Health and Human Services Budget Proposal

Engages With Secretary Sebelius on a Variety of Issues

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) examinedthe Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) proposed 2014 budget withSecretary Kathleen Sebelius today. Secretary Sebelius testified before thesubcommittee responsible for funding HHS today, on which DeLauro is the SeniorDemocrat.

DeLauro questioned the Secretary on the need for additionalfirearms research, mental health access and investment in early childhooddevelopment, all of which have been woefully underfunded to date. Shealso stressed the impact of the across the board cuts known as sequestration onprograms that support poor families and the middle class and the need torobustly implement the Affordable Care Act.

The following remarks are as prepared for delivery:

"Thank you, Mister Chairman. And welcome, Madam Secretary,to what I hope will be an interesting discussion of some very important budgetproposals.

"In considering the President's budget, I believe it isvitally important that we keep in mind a key point: This budget assumes thatthe sequestration now scheduled for 2014 is replaced with a more sensible andbalanced deficit reduction package, such as the one being proposed by thePresident.

"I very much hope we will succeed in doing that, but I havemy doubts. If we are not successful, the budget for HHS will look verydifferent. Sequestration will reduce the 2014 cap on non-defensediscretionary appropriations by an estimated $37 billion, and the Labor-HHSbill accounts for almost a third of the non-defense discretionary total.

"That means few, if any, of the proposed increases will bepossible, and instead, we will be looking at another round of harmful cuts thatwill be felt by our constituents in communities across the country. Iwould like to hear, Madam Secretary, what the impact of this will be.

"Moving to the budget before us, one proposed increase thatI am particularly pleased to see is the focus on investment in early childhood.It is high time that we join the many other nations in this investment.

"Ben Bernanke said last July that a significant investmentin early childhood would deliver gains to the entire US economy. I quote: ‘Notably, a portion of these economic returns accrues to the childrenthemselves and their families,' he said, ‘but studies show that the rest ofsociety enjoys the majority of the benefits.'

"There is a tremendous need in America for furtherinvestment in high quality and readily accessible child care and learningopportunities for infants and toddlers.

"Despite the vast research demonstrating the positiveoutcomes that stem from universal access to early learning, far too manychildren in working families are not able to benefit from this early foundationto a successful life. While I have some questions about the Administration'sproposal, I am glad to see this budget moves us in the right direction.

"The President's budget also requests appropriations tocontinue implementation of the health insurance marketplaces under theAffordable Care Act. That is exactly the right thing to do. The ACA is the law of the land, and our constituents deserve to access qualityinsurance options on its exchanges – so we need to allow the resources neededto properly implement these marketplaces and enroll patients.

"It is unconscionable that Congress failed to provideanywhere near the appropriations needed for this year, and as a result HHS hasbeen forced to take actions that divert resources away from other criticalpublic health priorities – like the Prevention and Public Health Fund – whilestill falling well short of the need.

"The ACA has the potential to transform health care in thiscountry and ensure that our constituents have access to quality, affordablehealth care services. Let's look at what it has already done:

• Stopped insurers from denying insurance to the more than15 million children with pre-existing conditions

• Helped more than 6 million young adults gain insurance bystaying on their parents' plan

• Stopped companies from discriminating against womenstrictly because of their gender

• Started to close the donut hole, saving seniors across thecountry billions of dollars

• Empowered more than 100 million Americans to accessrecommended preventive health services with no out of pocket costs

• Reinforced our longstanding, bipartisan support ofcommunity health centers, which will provide health care to 23 millionAmericans in fiscal year 2014

• And the list goes on!

"Starting next year, major new benefits will take effect. The law will end discrimination against adults with pre-existing conditions (ashas already been done for children), ensuring that people do not lose access tohealth insurance when they need it most. Individuals and small businesseswill be able to shop for insurance coverage in competitive and transparentmarketplaces, gaining some of the advantages already enjoyed by largecorporations. Financial assistance with premiums and cost sharing will beprovided to people with low and moderate incomes, so they can afford to beinsured. According to CBO, as a result of these and other changes 14million more Americans will gain healthcare coverage next year, with thatfigure rising to 27 million a few years later.

"I am encouraged that the Administration requests additionalfunding for the National Institutes of Health, though that is not enough toundo the harm of sequestration.

"Patients across the country rely on research supported bythe NIH and other health agencies like AHRQ and CMS to find out how we canprevent, diagnose earlier, and better treat diseases like cancer. And ourinvestments in health care workforce help ensure that with or withoutinsurance, our constituents have access to the care they need.

"We also rely on our public health agencies like the CDC toprotect us from new diseases – like the avian flu virus that has affected morethan 100 individuals in China – and to detect and control diseases here athome. Even before sequestration, appropriations for the CDC had been reducedby more than $725 million since 2010. When you add sequestration on topof that, the numbers are even worse.

"I am pleased that the Administration has requested fundingto restore cuts made to the Title X family planning program in recentyears. As you know, Title X providers are often the only source ofpreventive and primary care for the low-income women and men that rely on themfor care.

"Unfortunately, there are also a few things in this budgetthat I cannot support.

"One is the proposed $445 million reduction in theLow-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP has already been cut byalmost one third since 2010, while the price of heating oil has risen by 38percent. Over 90 percent of LIHEAP households include a loved one who iselderly, disabled, or under five. These struggling families should not have tochoose between buying groceries and keeping their homes warm.

"I also firmly oppose the proposed halving of the CommunityServices Block Grant here, which is such a valuable resource for the localorganizations providing vital services in our communities.

"In addition, I was disappointed to see that theAdministration has apparently given up on seeking the additional appropriationsallowed by the Budget Control Act to combat health care fraud and abuse. After requesting that funding for three years in a row but getting no increasewhatsoever from the majority side of our committee, it looks like the Presidenthas instead decided to request that the increase be provided in authorizinglaw. I hope he is successful in that request, since the health carefraud and abuse control program returns more than 7 dollars to the Treasury andthe Medicare trust funds for every dollar spent.

"There are a number of other important issues I hope we candiscuss today, including the Administration's proposal to strengthenaccess to mental health services, especially in the wake of the tragedy atSandy Hook Elementary in Newtown. As a member of the Connecticut delegation, Ican tell you: Our kids need access to quality services after traumatic eventslike Newtown, and we must do a better job ensuring that everyone has access tomental health care.

"I look forward to this discussion, and to your testimony.Madam Secretary, thank you for joining us today.