Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this morning, President Trump has released the first budget proposal of his administration.

In reading through the budget proposal, I am reminded of what President Trump said in the summer when he was speaking to the African- American community in a rally in Philadelphia.

He said: What do you have to lose?

This is what we have to lose: eliminating the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant program, whose sole purpose is to combat poverty nationwide.

This is what we have to lose: cutting funding for Head Start and before- and after-school programs for our kids does not give them a chance to get ahead.

This is what we have to lose: stripping funding for Medicaid in your new healthcare law that provides critical services for our most vulnerable.

This is what we have to lose: all of those cuts do not give our seniors, our children, and our working families a chance to get ahead.

Our communities have too much to lose, Mr. President. Our communities need the opportunity to make crucial investments that make our neighborhoods stronger block by block.

Mr. Speaker, I want to share with you what repealing the Affordable Care Act means to Pennsylvania's Second Congressional District:

369,000 people who receive health care from their employers could lose consumer protections;

335,000 people with health coverage that covers preventive care services could lose their coverage;

62,000 people covered by Medicaid expansion could lose their coverage;

21,000 people who receive financial assistance will be at greater risk of not being able to afford coverage.

These are our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and friends and neighbors. Philadelphia deserves a healthcare law that offers quality, affordable care. We must continue to speak up and speak out against the new healthcare law that hurts so many people in our city, our State, and our Nation.

Madam Speaker, last night House Republicans released their plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans and the Trump administration say that they want a healthcare plan that cuts costs and covers more Americans; yet they introduced a plan that takes away from millions of Americans and puts the poorest Americans, our seniors, our people with preexisting conditions, and working class families at greater risk of getting sick.

According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, approximately 220,000 Philadelphians would lose their health insurance if the Affordable Care Act is repealed without adequate replacement.

We cannot take this risk. The new plan is an insult to the millions of Americans who have fought hard to try to get ahead. Now is the time to resist.

Mr. Speaker, in 1976, the United States Government officially recognized Black History Month.

Every February since, we take the time to reflect on the contributions African Americans have made to this great Nation. We stand on the shoulders of those who have paved the way not only for African Americans, but for all Americans: individuals such as Shirley Chisholm, who once was a Member of this body and the first African- American woman elected to the United States Congress; Congressman Parren Mitchell; Justice Thurgood Marshall; and my personal hero, Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, a civil rights leader and a social activist who understood jobs were the key to economic development and empowerment of African Americans.

Reverend Sullivan had a very simple statement: ``Don't buy where you don't work.'' That is what Reverend Sullivan said: ``Don't buy where you don't work.''

Reverend Sullivan, who was on the board of General Motors, started something called OIC, that we all know about, in 1964. I was 10 years old when Reverend Sullivan started OIC Industrial Center.

Reverend Sullivan led a movement, a movement that 400 ministers led against a baking company in the city of Philadelphia called Tastykake. That is where he said: ``Don't buy where you don't work.'' That is a message that is still very relevant to where we are today. It is clear that we need to change the dynamics of this economic structure.

Despite the strides that some have made in our country, we still have a long way to go to make our country a more perfect Union. Tonight, we want to ensure that those who have joined, specifically at the grassroots, in the quest for justice and equality understand that we are still fighting. Communities across our Nation are struggling, and we have to continue to fight against policies and actions that will negatively impact them, including the repeal and inadequate replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

Constituents in my district rely on the Affordable Care Act heavily, and dismantling this law will be devastating and result in the loss of jobs. Those in my district want us to understand the hardships they are going through; thus, we must all ensure that we listen to the concerns of our communities.

I personally made it a point to visit hospitals, attend rallies, visit colleges, and reach out to the community. I serve because it is my job. I was elected to represent the people. We stand united with those at the grassroots movement who are fighting for justice for all.

Colleagues, let's continue to join with those who are pushing in the right direction, not just on Black History Month, but every month and every day and every moment. This is a rather unique opportunity in history, and we all can play a role in the change in the effort.

I am proud to be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and to be standing with my colleagues here today, pushing the message and the conscience of this country that we are still not finished. From those whom I just mentioned and the shoulders that we stand on, we still have a lot of work.

I thank both of my colleagues for leading this effort and demonstrating it. I thank the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I too want to join and thank Representative Veasey and Representative Plaskett for this opportunity.

Tonight, I stand with my colleagues urging support of policy solutions that will ensure our communities have unfettered access to the ballot box and to call for solutions to Republican-led attempts to suppress minority voting rights across the country.

Additionally, I must state my view of the recent action taken by President Trump which I assert has reduced the national trust in our democracy.

In the short time since President Trump has taken office, he has set forth a national security plan that would require broad spending increases. He has set forth an executive order to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement in place. He has seemingly put us directly at odds with Mexico, our bordering country, due to a wall that he has set forth as one of his key proposals, and then expected and even demanded that they actually pay for it.

He has ignored the facts and has declared that 3 to 5 million people allegedly voted fraudulently in the election.

And last, but certainly not least, he has set forth an executive order banning travel from Muslim countries and suspended the refugee program, an action that makes our Nation less safe.

Over the weekend, I joined with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Representative Robert Brady, and Representative Brendan Boyle and spoke directly with those who were immediately impacted by this executive action.

We joined with the protesters in voicing extreme discontent over the executive order and vowed to do our part to remedy what we can only refer to as a ``forced error'' of global proportions. We must work collectively to tear down the ban and to be the open democracy that our Constitution allows us to be.

Just today, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates told attorneys in the Justice Department not to make legal arguments defending President Trump's order on immigration and refugees.

The actions taken by President Trump are not in the best interest of our Nation, our national security, nor are they in the best interest of our communities; that is why we must continue to move forward policy proposals that have been introduced by my colleagues to ensure equal access to the ballot box to ensure we protect the voting rights of those in our communities so that they know that their voices are being heard.

For instance, my House colleague, Representative Sewell, introduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would set forth a geographical coverage formula that is based on the current conditions that include 13 States.

The bill will establish a rolling nationwide trigger that continuously moves so that only States that have a recent record of racial discrimination in voting would be covered. The Voting Rights Advancement Act would set forth greater transparency in Federal elections to ensure that voters are made aware of the late-breaking changes in voter procedures and would deter discrimination from occurring and protect voters from discrimination.

Let us continue to ensure the voices of our communities are heard. My colleagues and I stand united and ready to combat these actions that run counter to the best interest of those we are elected to represent.

Mr. Speaker, I think that the points that the gentlewoman is raising are very legitimate in terms of the experience that I have had. And the experience that I have had, always the question is: Is there enough availability of capital in any startup of any particular business?

The experience has shown that this idea of microloans hasn't been sustainable or sufficient in terms of what it would mean. And as a result, Mr. Speaker, I think that this is like kind of a pig in a poke, giving people some sense, but really it doesn't give them a sustainable sense of whether you have the necessary long-term investment that is necessary. So I think that this is like smoke and mirrors. And the gentlewoman is correct in what she is saying in terms of this is not something that will give them a sustainable effort.

Yes. And, Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Plaskett for the opportunity to offer some comments. The fact that the Congressional Black Caucus has taken this lead, I applaud our leadership, Chairman Richmond.

I join with my colleagues this evening to speak to the plan our new President has penned as the ``new deal for African Americans.'' This plan, unfortunately, does not meet the needs of our communities and focuses on the same assumptions that have not worked for our communities over the years.

In his inaugural address, President Trump stated: ``The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our Nation's Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.'' That was stated by President Trump.

Well, while individuals were celebrating last week, actions were taken for people all over our Nation to lose their healthcare coverage, and the Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance rate was cut an hour after President Trump took office, which would have reduced insurance premiums for borrowers each year. This does not help the men, women, and children of our great Nation.

In the new deal for Black America, President Trump asserts that there will be tax reform to create jobs and lift up people and communities. Just in my community alone, Mr. Speaker, at Temple University Hospital, which has 8,000 jobs, there are jobs that will be lost due to the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the day he was sworn in as our President. This is counter to any notion of job creation.

As our chairman so eloquently stated in the letter expressing the views of

the caucus on January 19, the new administration should target investment to those communities that need it the most and support programs that support small- and medium-sized businesses and address the access to capital crisis in the African American entrepreneur community.

In President Trump's inaugural address, he stated ``a new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.'' I assert that we already have a national pride. It is the pride that those in our communities feel when there is unity when they understand that individuals here in Congress are fighting for them. It is the pride that communities feel when they understand that groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus zealously represented and advocated to improve their lives over the course of the existence of the caucus, those in rural and urban communities.

An additional point in the new deal for Black America asserts financial reform to expand credit to support new job creation and specifically calls out the Dodd-Frank reforms set forth and protected through the leadership of Ranking Member Waters. These financial reforms and protections are absolutely essential to protect our communities.

With the racial wealth gap reaching an unfortunate and historical level, with White households maintaining 13 times the wealth of African American households, we must work to ensure the protections of Dodd- Frank remain in place. Additionally, as Representative Richmond shared, programs such as the Small Business Administration's Microloan Program, which provides capital and assistance to minority-owned business, must be bolstered.

I have spoken directly with my constituents about the need for access to capital; thus, my statement is not hypocritical or speculative in nature. There is an actual need in our communities so that our small businesses can grow and flourish.

Our new President asserts:

We are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving

it back to you, the American people.

I assert that the American people have always had the power. I see this power as I walk through my district as through my community, as I walk through Ogontz Avenue in West Oak Lane, part of my district, down Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia, Lancaster Avenue on the Main Line, and Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia. The faces in my community let me know that the power has always belonged to the people. It is now up to all of us to do what is in the best interest of our communities, to work collectively and address the issues that plague our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I stood in the well of this House some days ago, when I was sworn in, and basically said that I am not naive.

Today, I rise in support of the Affordable Care Act and oppose any effort to repeal it, which just took place. Since the ACA was enacted in 2010, the uninsured rate in Pennsylvania has fallen by 37 percent. Additionally, millions more Pennsylvanians, who would otherwise be uninsured, have coverage with an employer, Medicaid, individual market, or Medicare coverage as a result of the new protections provided by the law.

No matter what lens you look through, Pennsylvanians and individuals throughout our Nation have better health coverage and care today as a result of the ACA. Let us keep moving forward and help our communities have healthcare access, quality, and affordability.

Recently, our Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, sent a letter to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to underscore the importance of furthering access to care, keeping prices affordable and spending in check, and improving health care for those in our home State of Pennsylvania.

Just in Pennsylvania alone, we have had over 670,000 individuals who have enrolled in HealthChoices, Pennsylvania's mandatory managed care Medicaid program. That is 670,000 individuals who previously did not have access to quality of care.

We do not need the rhetoric of repeal and replace.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Office of the Governor,

Harrisburg, PA, December 20, 2016.

Hon. Kevin McCarthy,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman McCarthy: Thank you for the opportunity to

weigh in on the critically important conversation about the

future of health care in our country. As Governor of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am immensely proud of the

work we have done to further access to care, keep prices

affordable and spending in check, and improve health outcomes

since my administration began tackling health care as a top

priority.

One of my first decisions as Governor was to expand

Medicaid to individuals up to 138 percent of Federal Poverty

Level (FPL). Since that decision was made in February 2015,

more than 670,000 individuals have enrolled in HealthChoices,

Pennsylvania's mandatory managed care Medicaid program.

That's 670,000 Pennsylvanians that previously did not have

access to quality care, if they had access to care at all.

Total program enrollment now tops 2.8 million Pennsylvanians.

U.S. Census data shows that the commonwealth's uninsured rate

has dropped from 10.2 percent in 2010 to 6.4 percent in 2015,

and state General Fund costs have been reduced by more than

$500 million as a result of Medicaid expansion.

Even before the passage of the Affordable Care Act,

Medicaid was the largest single payer in the United States

for behavioral health services, including mental health and

substance use services. In the midst of an exploding heroin

use and opioid abuse epidemic that is gripping Pennsylvania

and the nation, the role that Medicaid pays in addressing

this epidemic cannot be understated. More than 3,500

Pennsylvanians died from heroin and opioid-related overdoses

last year and that number is expected to rise again in 2016.

However, in the first year of Pennsylvania's Medicaid

expansion, almost 63,000 newly eligible Medicaid enrollees

accessed drug and alcohol treatment. Demands on the treatment

system are growing by the day but Medicaid expansion has

opened the door to treatment that otherwise would not be

available, much less affordable, to those without insurance.

Of course, the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

are not limited to those with Medicaid. The ACA has had far-

reaching positive impacts on every community in Pennsylvania

In 2016, more than 439,000 people had selected health

coverage through the Marketplace.

Seventy six percent of those Pennsylvanians received

subsidies to make those plans more affordable. In 2016, 60

percent of those enrollees could obtain coverage for $100 or

less after tax credits. For a family, that may be the

difference between choosing to pay for food for dinner or

having stable health insurance. In addition, several pieces

of the ACA, including the provision that allows children to

remain on their parents' insurance until age 26 and the

provision that requires coverage of pre-existing conditions,

have made the benefits of health insurance coverage more

enticing than ever before.

Nonprofits that have historically served as the safety nets

of our health care system saw some relief with the passage of

the ACA. For many, this meant they could finally bill for

some of the services that they've typically provided for free

for individuals who are uninsured. To shift the burden back

on to these providers to serve an enormous influx of people

who would lose access to insurance under an ACA repeal is

doing a disservice to our nonprofit partners and our

communities. The upheaval would be instant and real and would

devastate families that have finally been able to set aside

health coverage from their list of daily worries.

I respectfully ask that you carefully consider the needs of

the people as you move forward with discussions about the

future of the ACA. All too often we get swept up in the

politics and financial impacts to large businesses and big

political donors and forget that these are real people, who

suffer from real diseases and every day maladies. Americans

need real, meaningful health care coverage. They need options

that are affordable, easy to understand, responsive to their

needs, and available immediately--with no lapse in coverage.

They need leadership and compassion and solutions--and

together, we can provide them with all of those things.

I look forward to future conversations. Thank you again for

the opportunity to contribute to this incredibly important

dialogue.

Sincerely,

Tom Wolf,

Governor.

Mr. Speaker, I attended Senate hearing. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 32, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 33, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 34.

personal explanation