“Shameful and Wrong”: Ranking Members Scott, Pallone, Neal Joined Protect Our Care to Slam Republicans for Failing to Fix Their Health Care Crisis

"Shameful and Wrong": Ranking Members Scott, Pallone, Neal Joined Protect Our Care to Slam Republicans for Failing to Fix Their Health Care Crisis

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WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), and Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01) joined Protect Our Care to call out Republicans for refusing to craft a budget that makes health care affordable for everyday American families. Speakers condemned the GOP health care crisis and pledged to continue to fight to lower health care costs, restore the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, end the massive cuts to Medicaid, and rein in sky-high prescription drug prices.

Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have launched an all-out assault on the American health care system since taking office. They made the largest health care cuts in history to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. They're raising health care costs for over 24 million Americans, more than doubling the premiums of hard-working people. Now, Donald Trump has renewed his everlasting wish to repeal the ACA, which was echoed by Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott, and Bill Cassidy. Despite the American people rejecting the Republican agenda, the GOP continues to double down on their crusade to make health care and life unaffordable for millions.

"We are one of the wealthiest countries on earth, and yet Americans are still forced to choose between filling a prescription or paying their rent or putting food on the table," said Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott. "Our health care system has been broken for a long time, and working people continue to struggle under the status quo. The time for small ideas is behind us. Congress must take bold action to make health care and prescription drugs affordable for every family. Together, we can demand a government that values people over politics, compassion over cruelty, and care over chaos."

"President Trump and Republicans repeatedly lied to the American people when they promised to lower costs," said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. "Instead, they passed the largest health care cut in history to give permanent tax breaks to billionaires and large corporate interests. Now, they're refusing to work with Democrats to help protect American families from skyrocketing health care premiums. It's shameful and wrong. Democrats are going to keep fighting and use every tool at our disposal to save these critical health care subsidies for Americans."

"When it came to extending tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations, Republicans couldn't move fast enough," said Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal. "Now, they've not only refused to act on the health care crisis, but took the government hostage in the process. From slashing health care to driving up costs and keeping drug prices unaffordable, the Republican record of failure is as reckless as it is cruel, and the consequences will be devastating for millions. The fight doesn't end here-Democrats will never stop fighting to lower costs, expand coverage, and make health care more affordable for every American."

"It is clear from all that's gone on the last 50 days, Democrats are on the side of the American people, fighting like hell to lower health care costs, expand coverage, make prescription drugs more affordable, and Republicans are on the side of billionaires," said Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse. "Republicans cut Medicaid not because it needed to be cut, not for any of the phony reasons that they talked about. They cut Medicaid to provide tax breaks to billionaires. That's what they're all about."

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