WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) made the following statement after Senate Republicans released their plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act after weeks of hiding the bill from the American people to avoid answering tough questions.
“Senate Republicans are right to be ashamed of their bill which strips coverage from millions of Americans while providing massive tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires. The Senate Republican plan is almost a mirror image of the House-passed Trumpcare bill which President Trump referred to as ‘mean’ and ‘cold-hearted.’ President Trump is entirely correct – this plan is cruel. It includes deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House version, breaking President Trump’s promise not to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”
“Majority Leader Mitch McConnell knows this bill is heartless and will take away critical ACA protections and essential health benefits like cancer screenings and maternity coverage, which is why he’s trying to push it through the Senate without any public hearings or debate.
“Plain and simple, this bill is a broken promise to the American people. Instead of upending progress, the Republican party should put their money where their mouth is and work with Democrats to make actual improvements to our health care system. Congress should be working towards providing a public insurance option to bring down prices, negotiating drug prices to lower prescription cost and lowering deductibles. Sadly, Republicans seem hell-bent on doing the opposite, and once again they are making it clear that they stand with the wealthy at the expense of working families, women, and seniors in this country.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
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