Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today opposed the Republican health bill that strips healthcare from 24 million Americans and forces working families to shoulder thousands of dollars more in out-of-pocket costs each year.

“This destructive proposal does nothing for middle-class families but threaten their lives and their financial security. We should build upon the reforms we’ve already made to expand coverage and reduce costs — not destabilize our nation’s healthcare system, rob 24 million of their health insurance and increase costs for seniors, women and the middle class,” DelBene said. “Instead of making smart reforms to ensure all Americans have access to affordable health coverage, Republicans are forcing people to pay more for less. This bill is unacceptable and shouldn’t be jammed through Congress.”

In addition to reducing financial assistance for working families by $312 billion, the Republican bill gives a $7 million tax break to each of the 400 wealthiest American households, causes 7 million workers to lose their employer-sponsored health coverage, guts benefits and protections for seniors, defunds Planned Parenthood and cuts funding for Medicaid by more than $880 billion. This would force states to assume massive costs, or else begin rationing healthcare for 63 million children, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities.

DelBene offered a motion to prevent the Republican bill from weakening Medicare. She also spoke in support of motions that would stop the defunding of Planned Parenthood and protect Medicaid expansion. Republicans blocked these efforts.

Last week, DelBene also fought the bill in the House Ways and Means Committee in a hearing that lasted 18 hours. After today’s 19-17 vote in the Budget Committee to report the measure, it now heads to the House floor for a vote next week. 

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