Statement Opposing the Repeal of the Patients Bill of Rights
As Congress debates this legislation to repeal the historic health care reform law, it is important that our constituents know what working families, small businesses, and seniors stand to lose.
Repealing the health care reform law would remove new protections for 57 million Americans with preexisting conditions. That includes over 8,000 children in my district. It will end the chance for 2.5 million young adults to remain on their parents' plans until they are 26 years of age. In my district, over 4,000 young people will lose this coverage. It will increase prescription drug costs for more than 10,000 seniors in my district who hit the Medicare part D doughnut hole. These seniors will pay another $500 this year and, between now and 2020, another $3,000. Some 16,000 small businesses in my district alone will pay higher taxes.
Repeal will increase the deficit by $230 billion over the next 10 years and more than $1.2 trillion over the following decade. Repeal will shorten the life of the Medicare program by 12 years, putting Medicare benefits and the seniors who depend on it at great risk.
So when you consider these facts, it is clear that repealing the health care reform law is bad for families, bad for small businesses, and bad for seniors in my district and across our great country. I urge a ``no'' vote.