DEMOCRATS BRING MORE THAN 80 PATIENTS, DOCS, HEALTH CARE ADVOCATES TO STATE OF THE UNION
DEMOCRATS BRING MORE THAN 80 PATIENTS, DOCS, HEALTH CARE ADVOCATES TO STATE OF THE UNION
Pelosi, Schumer, Hoyer, DPCC Chairs Call on Trump to Drop ACA Repeal Lawsuit, Pressure McConnell to Consider Lower Drug Cost Now Act at SOTU
(Washington, DC) – Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5), and the Chairs and Cochairs of the House and Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committees (DPCC) – Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Representatives David Cicilline (RI-01), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Ted Lieu (CA-33) – are calling on President Trump to use tonight's State of the Union to drop his lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act and pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take up the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, passed by the House last year.
Democrats are bringing more than 80 patients, doctors and health care advocates from across the country as guests to the State of the Union. While President Trump continues his lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take health care away from millions of Americans, Congressional Democrats have passed 11 bills to lower prescription drug costs, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and reverse health care sabotage.
"Millions of American families and seniors are suffering as a result of President Trump's broken promises to lower the cost of prescription drugs and his all-out assault on individuals with pre-existing conditions," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is bringing California Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, type 1 diabetes patient Jonah Cohen and his mother Jennifer Pliner, identical twins and type 1 diabetes patients Cheyanne Faulkner and Morgan Faulkner, and Xiomara Hung and her mother Elena Hung who are advocates for inclusion of all patients with pre-existing conditions. "At tonight's State of the Union, Democrats are proud to stand with so many brave Americans whose stories and determination have had such a powerful impact in our fight to protect the quality, affordable heath care that hard-working Americans rely on. While the President tries to distract the country from his outrageous health care sabotage, these courageous patients, doctors and advocates are there to remind him of the real-life consequences that his actions have for countless Americans."
"President Trump and Republicans are fighting day in, day out to sabotage Americans' health care and rip pre-existing condition protections from millions of Americans," said Leader Schumer, who will be joined by Jonathan Fisher from the Bronx, NY, a child with congenital heart defects, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and chronic lung disease. "Democrats won't let Republicans succeed. Children like Jonathan deserve access to quality affordable care, regardless of pre-existing conditions, and we'll continue to fight to lower health care costs, shore up vital pre-existing condition protections, and ensure that every family can access the care they need."
"The state of health care access in America has been dismal under this President, who has overseen a campaign to undermine and repeal the Affordable Care Act through legislation, court actions, and the executive pen" said Leader Hoyer,who is bringing Starr Barbour, an advocate for maternal and mental health among minority communities, and Vinny DeMarco, an advocate for affordable healthcare in Maryland. "House Democrats are highlighting that record tonight by inviting as our State of the Union guests Americans who are struggling to access the care they need and community heroes who are working to improve access and close disparities. Democrats have already passed eleven bills in the House to protect and expand access to quality, affordable health care and lower prescription drug prices. We will not stop fighting for quality and affordable health care for every American."
"While Democrats are delivering on our promise to lower costs and expand health care For the People, the President is still threatening to rip care from millions of Americans with his lawsuit and giving pharma a free pass to continue jacking up drug costs. Democrats are calling on the President to use the State of the Union to announce he will drop his lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and keep his promise to lower drug costs by calling on Mitch McConnell to pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act though the Senate so it can be signed into law," said Cicilline,who is bringing Carrigan Nelson, a Rhode Island patient receiving coverage for treatment through the Affordable Care Act.
"Every family in Michigan deserves high-quality, affordable health insurance. Unfortunately, President Trump has done everything in his power to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions and increase the cost of health care for families," said Senator Stabenow,who is bringing Andrea Pietrowsky, a mom from southeast Michigan who became a health care advocate after her daughter was born with a severe congenital heart defect."I am grateful to have Andrea with me at this year's State of the Union and for her work ensuring that every family in Michigan has the health care they need. Like every child in Michigan, her daughter Louisa deserves the best medical care available, regardless of their pre-existing conditions."
"Washington Republicans and others from several states are trying to use the courts to invalidate the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which has helped millions of Americans get health insurance," said Cartwright, who is bringing Ben Tielle, a patient with pre-existing conditions, who relies on insulin. "If they succeed, Ben and millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions could be denied coverage, seniors will be forced to pay higher prices for prescription drugs, and more. These devastating consequences should be reason enough for this lawsuit to end. In the meantime, House Democrats will continue fighting to lower health care costs and strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions."
"We cannot go back to the days when people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart issues feared being denied coverage or have premiums too high they cannot afford them," said Dingell. "The House has passed 11 bills to lower prescription drug prices, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. We are ready and willing to work with anyone who comes to the table to lower prescription drug prices and to protect people living with pre-existing conditions. It's time for everyone to work together to ensure every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare."
"Our job is to protect people with pre-existing conditions and make sure no one goes broke trying to afford life-saving medications," said Lieu,who is bringing a former Olympic swimmer and an outspoken advocate for diabetes research."House Democrats have delivered on those promises For the People and we are calling on President Trump to stop trying to take health care away and work with us to lower costs for everyone."
The House passed 11 bills this Congress to lower drug costs, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and reverse health care sabotage – including the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), landmark legislation that would give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies to bring down prices and make those savings available to hardworking families across America. Ten of those bills are currently stuck in the Senate where McConnell refuses to act.
Meanwhile, three days into this year, Pharma had already increased drug prices on more than 400 medicines. And President Trump's lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act recently moved forward, once again putting the health care of millions in jeopardy.