Pelosi Remarks at Press Conference to Highlight Devastating Impact of Trumpcare on Patients
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. and dozens of doctors and health care providers to highlight the devastating impact of the Republican proposals to roll back access to health care for millions of Americans. Below are the Leader’s Remarks:
Leader Pelosi. “Thank you very much Rep. Ruiz. It’s an honor to be here with you and Congressman Dr. Ami Bera. Congress is truly blessed by their service in the Congress because they can bring firsthand knowledge of ramifications and changes to public policy and how they affect the wellbeing of the American people.
“It’s an honor to join you, I stand with Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Mike Thompson on the Ways and Means Committee, Congresswoman Slaughter, the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, which had an important role in passing the Affordable Care Act. What an honor it is for all of us to be with all of you, the most trusted people in America: the doctors and health care providers, and nurses!
[Applause]
“Nurses have come to us and said, most of the people that we see have a preexisting medical condition so when we talk about legislation as terrible as Congressman Dr. Ruiz said, to me, it’s cruel and deadly. But what does it replace? It replaces something that expanded healthcare to twenty million people and growing.
“It said that if you’re a woman, it’s no longer is that a preexisting medical condition. It said if you had a preexisting condition, no longer could you be discriminated in your access to health care. It said if you student, you could stay on your parent’s policy until you were 26 years old.
“I say these things because it’s important to know what we are losing when we go down the path that they are putting through. And it’s deadly and cruel as Raul said, and all of this to give a tax break to the wealthiest people in our country. It is a tax bill disguised as a health care bill.
“Martin Luther King said that of all the inequalities, ‘the most cruel and stunning is that of health care because people will die.’ So I am so proud of our House Democrats sticking together, working with the Senate Democrats to stop, what do they call it, ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing or a Trojan horse,’ that has been rolled out as discussion today.
“All of it is very harmful, and while it may throw a few early crumbs, the long term harm that they will do to our children, to our seniors, to our veterans, between 1 and 2 million of our veterans are on Medicaid, and this goes on and on.
“So I thank all of you for what you do, not only to provide health care but also to keep America healthy, a healthier America: prevention. Being in the loop sooner, because your patient was not, being in the loop sooner.
“What an eloquent statement our guests in white jackets are to this Capitol. I hope the message is not lost on the Republicans in the Senate. And if they pass something, we will fight it when it comes back to the House for the good of the American people.
“With that, I am pleased to yield to our distinguished House Whip Steny Hoyer our champion in passing the Affordable Care Act.”