00:00Everyday Americans will be hurt by the one big, ugly bill.
00:07We're here on the floor of the House of Representatives,
00:13debating legislation in the middle of the night,
00:17with millions of Americans having gone to sleep,
00:20anxious about what would happen,
00:25here on the floor of the House of Representatives,
00:29understandably concerned that their voices have not been heard in this debate,
00:38that their pleas for compassion have been overlooked.
00:47Many of my colleagues, Mr. Speaker on the other side of the aisle,
00:50have chosen not to hold town hall meetings,
00:55not to hear from the voices of the people that you are privileged to represent.
01:04But we've embraced the American people.
01:09We haven't run from the American people.
01:12House Democrats will continue to run toward the American people and lift their voices up.
01:18So, Mr. Speaker, I'm going to take a little time
01:31to share some of the stories of the American people.
01:39Voices that might otherwise be excluded from this debate.
01:49But we're not going to let those voices be excluded.
01:53We will ensure that these voices are heard.
01:58We will continue to do everything we can to bring those voices to life,
02:06here on the House floor and beyond,
02:08to stand up for the best interests of everyday Americans.
02:16And we've heard from many of them throughout this process.
02:20I'll share just a handful.
02:27With Medicaid expansion, I now qualify for Medicaid.
02:35Without insurance, my monthly bill for my three injectable drugs would be $3,000.
02:44$36,000 a year.
02:49And that doesn't include any of my other meds or my medical appointments.
02:54Who has that kind of money?
03:00That's Charles, who lives in Alaska.
03:06District represented by Congressman Nick Begich.
03:14Medicare and Social Security keep me alive.
03:18I'm surviving on about $13,000 a year.
03:25Most of it from my Social Security checks.
03:29That's just enough to afford my rent, utilities, and food.
03:36Without Social Security, I would be homeless.
03:41And if Medicare did not pay for my medications, if I had to pay full price, I wouldn't be able to survive.
03:50There are so many other seniors who are in the same boat.
03:55Without these programs, seniors like me would die on the street.
04:03That's Paula, who lives in Arkansas's 2nd Congressional District, represented by my colleague, Congressman French Hill.
04:19My son is a 25-year-old young adult with profound nonverbal autism who needs 24-7 support.
04:37Our family has relied on Medicaid from the time he was two years old when he began early intervention services.
04:49At three, when he was diagnosed with autism, a private health insurance denied him coverage for his pre-existing condition.
05:02Medicaid stepped in to provide health care.
05:08From that point until today, home and community-based services through Medicaid have been vital to our son's health and well-being.
05:21Medicaid also helped his school district pay for medically necessary therapies at school.
05:29Medicaid.
05:30Our son is thriving and healthy.
05:35And our family can support him at home because of Medicaid.
05:42That's Robin.
05:44She lives in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, represented by David Swiker.
05:54These are stories from everyday Americans who've written to us to say to this Congress, stand up for our health care, Mr. Speaker.
06:09Don't stand up for billionaires.
06:14Stand up for everyday Americans, for our health, for our safety.
06:21It's for our well-being.
06:24Gwendolyn from Arizona, she also writes, she says, Medicaid is the difference between my son being healthy, happy, cared for, and social,
06:41versus being at home with aging parents who struggle to physically provide the care that is required daily.
06:50Medicaid funding means my son receives the incontinent supplies he needs, the internal feeding supplies he needs to live, and medications that his primary insurance won't cover.
07:09Medicaid matters.
07:10Medicaid matters.
07:11Medicaid matters.
07:12Because without it, my son and millions of others, like him, may not survive.
07:16Let me speak directly to Gwendolyn from Arizona.
07:27Her representative may not be fighting on your behalf.
07:31As House Democrats, we're here to say to you, we agree.
07:36Medicaid matters, and it must be preserved.
07:40It must be preserved.
07:43Because Medicaid matters to millions of people all across this great country.
07:48To children, to seniors, to people with disabilities, to women, to families, to people in every corner of the United States of America.
07:58Yes, Gwendolyn, Medicaid matters.
08:03And if your representative won't fight for it, we will.
08:13And if your representative says to us, my youngest child is a nonverbal 43-year-old female with autism who has been on Medicaid since she was 12.
08:38She's had three major surgeries and six or more outpatient surgeries.
08:47All made possible because of Medicaid.
08:53We would not have been able to get our daughter what she needed if it wasn't for Medicaid.
09:05She also has a seizure disorder and is on several medications.
09:14Some of them are way too expensive for us to afford on a blue collar income.
09:22Finding doctors that are good and accept Medicaid are few and far between.
09:28But some doctors are better than none.
09:32And the only way our daughter will get any medical care at all.
09:39She is one of the most vulnerable people in society.
09:45And caring for her is a full-time job for myself and her father, who are both retired and are full-time care providers for her.
10:02I am not sure why anyone would want to take this help and service from people whose very life depends on the help it provides.
10:18That's a powerful and profound question.
10:24Why would anyone in this House vote to take away Medicaid from the American people amongst the most vulnerable here in the United States of America?
10:39Brenda from Arizona,
10:42Brenda from Arizona, lives in Arizona's 6th Congressional District.
10:49Represented by my colleague Congressman D...
10:54Juan Siskamani.
10:59Garrett also from Arizona.
11:07I'm still in the A section right now.
11:13So strap in as we make sure we lift up the voices of everyday Americans all across this country.
11:23It's important that we take note.
11:31This isn't abstract, taking away health care from the American people.
11:38It's concrete. It's real.
11:42It has devastating implications.
11:47Garrett says, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth.
11:52Thanks to Medicaid, I was able to undergo multiple surgeries that significantly improved my ability to walk, transforming both my mobility and daily life.
12:14Relying on Medicaid, SNAP in the past and SSI, I worry about what would happen to me and my friends if these programs were taken away.
12:28Without them, I wouldn't be able to keep up with doctor's appointments, medications, and transportation.
12:44Earlier today, my distinguished colleague from the great Commonwealth of Virginia read a passage of scripture.
12:56One of my favorite passages of scripture.
13:00Matthew 25 and 35 through 40.
13:10And later on, this morning, as I continue my remarks, perhaps I'll have an opportunity to go a little deeper into the meaning of Matthew 25 and 35.
13:28What I can say is that all of us should be trying to lift up the least, the lost, the left behind, the poor, the sick, and the afflicted.
13:47Garrett tells us, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth.
13:57And the first thing that jumped out to me when I read this was that we're all God's children and we should be looking after all God's children to the best of our ability,
14:10not running away from them and undermining their quality of life.
14:17So Garrett, we're going to continue to stand up and work hard on your behalf.
14:27Nancy from California.
14:31That's a great name, Nancy from California.
14:36Nancy from California writes,
14:46My two special health needs,
14:50former foster children,
14:53depend on Medicaid
14:56for a dizzying array of health services,
15:00ranging from over 20 pediatric medical specialists
15:06and palliative care to behavioral health and occupational therapies.
15:15They both have rare and curable disabling diseases
15:21that require IEPs
15:26to navigate
15:28school.
15:30She continues and,
15:34but I want to pause right there.
15:37I think that's an important point.
15:39Talking about her children and
15:43the IEPs
15:45to navigate school.
15:50We should be
15:52looking out
15:54for children
15:57like Nancy's two
16:00beautiful,
16:01former foster care children,
16:04her two
16:05special health needs children,
16:08as
16:10she calls them.
16:12It's one of the reasons why the Department of Education
16:17is important.
16:20Public schools are important.
16:22Nothing in this bill
16:25supports public education.
16:27In fact, this one big ugly bill
16:29represents an attack
16:31on public education.
16:33and that is not
16:37consistent with
16:40what we should be doing
16:42as we prepare to celebrate
16:44our 249th birthday
16:46and lifting up this
16:48pursuit of happiness.
16:50Nancy continues,
16:52the ACA protections
16:54for pre-existing conditions
16:57and the removal of lifetime caps
17:00are also essential.
17:05My youngest child requires medical care
17:07that I simply cannot afford,
17:12costing between $750,000
17:16and $1 million per year,
17:21depending on how stable her health is.
17:26I work part-time,
17:28but the caregiver burden is too demanding
17:31for me to maintain
17:33a full-time job.
17:36As a single widowed mother,
17:39Medicaid has become a lifeline
17:42for keeping my kids
17:45as well as possible.
17:48Nancy lives in California's
17:52first Congressional District,
17:55represented by my colleague,
17:58Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
18:05Laura lives in the Central Valley
18:09of California,
18:13an area of the country
18:19with the highest concentration
18:23of Medicaid recipients.
18:27The highest concentration
18:31of Medicaid recipients.
18:35I've been raising my six grandchildren
18:38for 15 years.
18:42And they are coming of age.
18:45But not many jobs
18:47are available.
18:50Also, my 16-year-old grandson
18:54depends on Medicaid
18:57and EBT to survive.
19:00He takes many medications a day.
19:13If you're not going to respect
19:14my ability to speak,
19:16respect the story that I'm telling
19:18on behalf of Laura.
19:19Respect her story.
19:23Because her story matters.
19:26Her story matters.
19:29And the American people matter.
19:32We need order!
19:37He takes many medications a day.
19:40I'm too old to do anything
19:44but take care of him.
19:47I can't imagine choosing
19:50what medicines he gets
19:52or who gets to eat.
19:58Please reconsider for the people
20:00who need medication
20:02that is necessary for survival.
20:07Universal access to food and meds
20:09would lighten the worry
20:11that we carry.
20:14Not having to worry about food
20:16and medicines gives me more time
20:18to care for my 26-year-old grandson
20:23who is quadriplegic
20:29due to a head-on collision last year.
20:33Please don't make him suffer anymore.
20:38He needs food supplements
20:40and many medications every day
20:42to survive.
20:45Laura lives in California's
20:5222nd Congressional District.
20:56A district that is represented by
20:59my colleague, Congressman David Valadao.
21:06Just happens to be the district
21:09that has the highest concentration
21:10of Medicaid recipients in this country.
21:15Laura, I don't know what your Congress member
21:20is going to do.
21:23Every single House Democrat is fighting hard
21:27to protect your Medicaid.
21:33We value you.
21:37And we're working hard to defend you.
21:42Jackie is from the Orange County area of California.
21:54His son is 34 years old.
21:59He has Down Syndrome and autism
22:04and lives at home with his aging parents.
22:08Dad, 82, and Mom, 71.
22:15His biggest joys in life for him are his day program
23:14is what allows us to keep him in a safe and happy environment.
23:23That he will not get anywhere else.
23:28And for a whole lot less money.
23:35Why should that change for him?
23:39Jackie asks.
23:42Please be respectful of families who have high need family members,
23:51who need these services.
23:54Thank you for allowing me to speak on behalf of my son and everyone who loves him.
24:07Jackie lives in California's 40th Congressional District,
24:13a district represented by my colleague, Congresswoman Young Kim.
24:24Kayla writes to us from Colorado.
24:31At 26, I was diagnosed with brain cancer.
24:38A discovery I was only able to make because of Medicaid.
24:46Without it, I wouldn't have been able to get the treatment I need to survive.
24:56That diagnosis changed my life.
25:02And while I am grateful to be here, I can no longer work.
25:13Now I rely on disability benefits, food stamps, just to get by.
25:25These programs are the only reason I'm able to live.
25:31Without this support, I don't know how I would manage.
25:42Kayla lives in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District,
25:49a district represented by the assistant Democratic leader, Jonah Goose.
25:56Kayla, I can say to you that your Congress member is fighting hard to protect you,
26:02just like every single member of the House Democratic caucus.
26:14Ashley writes to us from Colorado.
26:21He says my life was saved by the Affordable Care Act.
26:29Because of this act, I was able to stay on my parents' health insurance when I couldn't get any coverage.
26:38At the time, I was dealing with a myriad of health issues and would eventually be diagnosed with multiple chronic illnesses.
26:48Because of the ACA, when my husband and I were married, I was able to be added to his insurance without being denied due to pre-existing conditions.
27:02Prior to the act being passed, I was denied coverage and care many times.
27:12If I was even approved for coverage, it cost me thousands per month in premiums.
27:19I was being penalized, Mr. Speaker, for being sick.
27:31There were many times when I could not get coverage that I had to choose between which prescriptions I would get to have
27:42or whether I would get all my meds or the groceries we needed.
27:48You know, there are far too many people in the United States of America right now
27:56before experiencing the devastating consequences of this one big ugly bill.
28:03Who have to choose between putting food on the table, clothing on their backs, access to medication, or paying the rent.
28:21The United States of America is the wealthiest country in the history of the world.
28:28Not a single hard-working American taxpayer should ever have to choose between food or medicine or rent or putting clothing on their back.
28:39Not a single hard-working American taxpayer should ever have to make that choice.
