April 9, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 61 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H3140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

  (Mr. PAPPAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, when we took our oath in January, no issue 
before us was more critical than healthcare.
  Over the past 100 days, we have fought the administration's efforts 
to gut the Affordable Care Act at every turn. We must keep at it 
because the ACA has allowed 53,000 New Hampshire residents to enroll in 
Medicaid expansion. The coverage for substance use disorder makes it 
the best tool we have to fight the opioid crisis.
  We also voted to empower House counsel to defend coverage for those 
with preexisting conditions. Half the adult population in my State of 
New Hampshire has a preexisting condition. We can't go back to the days 
when insurance companies could discriminate against them.
  We have also introduced legislation that will lower premiums, 
strengthen patient protections, and crack down on junk plans that could 
send New Hampshire families right into bankruptcy.
  Lowering costs and expanding access to care must continue to be at 
the top of our priority list. Nothing is more important to the health 
of our districts and the well-being of this Nation.
  Let's work together to improve our healthcare system, not play 
politics with it.

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