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Pelosi Statement on Democrats’ Bill to Meet Overdue Health Care Priorities

January 18, 2018

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Henry Connelly, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement after Democrats offered a previous question to force an immediate vote on the Advancing Seniors and Kids Act, introduced by Congressman Donald McEachin, a critical bill to meet overdue, urgent health care priorities for the American people:

"After squandering an entire year stacking the deck for the privileged and powerful, Republicans have stitched an utterly inadequate CHIP reauthorization to an utterly inadequate short-term continuing resolution. The GOP's shameless scheme to reauthorize CHIP while starving the Community Health Centers and safety net hospitals where so many children on CHIP actually receive their health care is a recipe for suffering and crisis.

"Democrats' Advancing Seniors and Kids Act, introduced by Congressman Donald McEachin, provides the certainty and $6 billion savings of a permanent CHIP reauthorization, and a strong two-year funding reauthorization for community health centers. Our bill prevents devastating cuts to our nation's vital safety net hospitals, permanently repeals caps on therapy services for seniors on Medicare and reauthorizes the highly successful home visiting initiative, which has been proven to improve maternal and child health.

"Our bill is a real solution for the increasingly urgent situation facing the American people, and Republicans should join us on the Previous question to hold an immediate vote on this legislation. You cannot reauthorize CHIP while abandoning all the other health investments that make CHIP function, and when Republicans get serious about protecting children's health that is what we will do – together."

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Issues:Health Care