ICYMI: HELP Subcommittee Ranking Member DeSaulnier Hosts Health Care Event on Expiring ACA Premium Tax Cuts
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), brought together health experts, small business owners, and Marketplace enrollees to highlight the critical importance of extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which help ensure working families can access quality, affordable health coverage.
The discussion panel featured Justin Giovannelli of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, Katie Berge of Blood Cancer United, and small business owners and Marketplace enrollees Tori Baggot and Kathleen Winters.
Watch the entire event on YouTube.
Ranking Member DeSaulnier delivered the following remarks at the beginning of the forum:
“Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you all for being here today.
“I’m Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, and I represent California’s tenth district. I also have the honor of serving as the lead Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee for the Education and Workforce Committee. I appreciate you all joining us today as we discuss what millions of Americans already know — that health care in this country is deeply unaffordable. Unfortunately, it appears that the only people who don’t know this are Republican politicians who, at this very moment, are refusing to stop a massive spike in health care costs that working families in America can’t afford.
“During the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, Democrats fought for an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) premium tax credits —that keep coverage affordable for over 20 million Americans. Without this extension, households across the country would face skyrocketing premiums and be forced to choose between paying their rent and seeing a doctor.
“Over the past few weeks, many families have received renewal notices showing dramatic increases in their premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. In the district I represent in California, which is the 5th wealthiest house district in the United States over 33,000 people will likely be priced out of their health insurance market because of Republican inaction. For a family of four in California’s 10th district earning $130,000 a year, their premiums would rise by over $18,000. Needless to say, even in a wealthy area like that families cannot afford this.
“After many painful weeks of silence from the other side of the aisle, we have finally reopened the government upon the condition that Republicans come to the table and extend these critical ACA premium tax credits.
“Now, it’s up to us to hold Republicans accountable and ensure that working families aren’t left in the lurch. That’s why we’re here today — are republicans’ counterparts have not held a single hearing on the realities families are facing today on the expiration of the enhances tax credits. So, we are having to do it ourselves. Today we will hear from health care experts, small business owners, and those who enroll in the ACA marketplace about how these tax credits affect their finances, their access to care, and their lives, and discuss what we can do to make health care more affordable and at a higher quality.
“We live in one of the wealthiest countries on earth, and yet too many families fear a trip to the emergency room will bankrupt them. Our health care system has been broken for too long time, and Americans are struggling under current the status quo. Congress must take bold action to make health care and prescription drugs affordable for every Americans family, not just the wealthy few.
“And it’s not just health care. Across the board, the cost of living continues to rise. Working families are paying more for groceries, housing, and other everyday goods. While working people are struggling to get by, people like Elon Musk is slated to earn more money each year than every teacher combined over the next 10 years. But instead of working with Democrats to bring costs down, Republicans have chosen to cut Medicaid, threaten Medicare, and gut the Affordable Care Act.
“As a former small business owner, I know that healthy employees with good benefits are essential to the success of any business enterprise. The ACA marketplace ensures that workers at small businesses can get those benefits. That is why I am excited to hear from the folks here today. If we are going to build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out, we must listen not only to policymakers in Washington but also to the folks on the ground to ensure that our policies actually address the needs of the American workers.
“Our work is far from over. We are continuing the fight for affordable, accessible health care for every American, because that’s what this is about. So, thank you for being here today, I apologize for being late and I look forward to a productive discussion.”
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