Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Mr. Speaker, 9 years ago, the House passed the Affordable Care Act to ensure that tens of millions of Americans had health insurance.

Thanks to the ACA, over a million Floridians were able to get healthcare coverage.

In these past 9 years, Republicans have consistently tried to repeal and sabotage the Affordable Care Act. As a result, families in Florida are often unable to afford their healthcare.

Today, the President tried once again to repeal the Affordable Care Act. If the President gets his way, more than 1.6 million Floridians would lose their coverage, and insurance companies could charge even more, resulting in higher costs for American families. Women could be charged more than men for the same services, and people living with preexisting conditions could lose coverage.

Floridians cannot afford these attacks on their healthcare. I implore the Senate to pass the bills that we have already sent them to protect healthcare for all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule.

Right now, there are thousands of children detained in temporary facilities, facilities like the ones in Homestead, which is right in the middle of my district. We have no answers. We have no idea of when these kids are going to be released. It is an overcrowded facility, with kids who are sleeping in warehouse areas on bunk beds, of more than 144 kids.

They are living in prison-like conditions. Many have been there for months. These kids should not be detained without their freedom and their rights. What we are asking from the Senate are reasonable requests for the safety and for the well-being of thousands of children.

We have to pass these provisions put forth by the House. We must put in writing that no child can be held and detained in a temporary facility like Homestead for more than 90 days.

Madam Speaker, many of the children have families living right here in the United States that they could be reunited with. But those who are running the facilities have no incentive for reuniting them.

The Senate bill does not have a timeline. The Senate bill is inadequate. We must pass the House-amended bill.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which would set aside a further $5 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative Fund.

HIV/AIDS remains a major problem in this country, with approximately 1.1 million people currently living with the disease, 130,000 of whom reside in the State of Florida, and over 26,000 in Miami-Dade alone. It is estimated that there are 40,000 new diagnoses every year, with racial and ethnic minorities making up three of four new cases.

Despite advances in medicine and research and progress combating this issue nationwide, in Miami, this trend is going in the wrong direction. The rate of new diagnoses in the Miami area is three times the national average, the highest rate of anywhere in the country.

It is critical that we devote the necessary resources to curb the spread of this disease and provide care for those living with HIV/AIDS. The Minority AIDS Initiative Fund plays a crucial role in addressing key health disparities by bringing Federal, State, and community organizations together to test innovative solutions and address emerging needs in communities impacted by this epidemic.

My amendment will help support further efforts to improve access to HIV prevention and care services for racial and ethnic minorities. In its current capacity, the program supports more than 33 projects and 130 community partners across the country. This increase in funding would not only expand on the successful initiatives, but

also support new ventures addressing the spread of HIV/AIDS in underserved populations.

For example, in my home district, the organization Prevention305 is helping combat this epidemic by increasing awareness of and access to PrEP medication, a key tool that greatly reduces the spread of HIV.

It is critical that we continue to provide for such innovative initiatives that help prevent the spread of this disease and provide quality care for those infected by HIV/AIDS.

I ask my colleagues today to join me in the fight to end this epidemic once and for all and provide the relief to those living with or impacted by this disease.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.