Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05)—senior Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee—spoke on the House floor against the Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. His remarks are as follows:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bad bill. It’s not a step towards fixing the bill. This is a step towards destroying healthcare.
“It was bad when it ripped healthcare away from 24 million Americans. It was bad when it created an Age Tax, forcing seniors to pay five times that of what other people pay. It was bad when it forced hardworking Americans to pay higher premiums and deductibles while billionaires get a trillion dollar worth of tax cuts. And it was bad when it shortened the life of Medicare.
“But today it got worse.
“Today Republicans gutted coverage for emergency services, prescription drugs, hospitalization, mental health coverage, and preventative coverage. This bill also prevents millions of veterans from getting healthcare.
“This is a truly bad bill.
“It will cost millions of Americans their healthcare. It will force them to pay more for fewer benefits. And it gives the richest Americans a huge tax cut. This is a tax cut bill, not a healthcare bill, and the American people deserve much better. I urge everyone to vote no on this bad bill.
“Thank you, I yield back.”