Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Across generations, presidencies are often associated with one famous utterance. “Ask not, what your country can do"… “The only thing we have to fear" … “Tear down this wall." And our current president will be no different… “If you like you health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. Period."
For the last three years the president repeated this promise in selling his signature law, and he did so with the knowledge it would not be met. Millions of Americans, including 225,000 folks in Michigan, took the president at his word, and are now unexpectedly receiving cancellation notices. They are confused, worried, and upset.
Today, we stand with those families with the Keep Your Health Plan Act. This bill is to help provide peace of mind to folks like the farmer in Bangor, Michigan, who just found out after purchasing his family’s insurance for the last 30 years, he will be able to keep that plan no more. And the sticker shock will be unbearable as their premiums double and their deductible jumps nearly three thousand dollars. Sadly, they are not alone. For millions of Americans, it’s cancellations today… sticker shock tomorrow.
For the last six weeks, the White House stood idly by, ignoring the pleas of millions. But as the administration’s allies in Congress panicked, the White House went from attacking our thoughtful bill to making an end run around Congress with a unilateral “fix."
Our straightforward, one page bill that says if you like your current coverage, you should be able to keep it. The president should heed his own advice and work with Congress as the Founders intended, not around the legislative process. Everyone today should embrace the Keep Your Health Plan Act, and our efforts to protect Americans from the damage of this law should not stop there. Let’s keep the promise.
