Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today after President Biden signed two executive orders this afternoon strengthening access to quality, affordable health care for the American people:
“After four years of constant attempts by the Trump Administration to make it harder to sign up for health care and more expensive for those who obtain coverage, President Biden is taking decisive action to reverse the damage done and to expand access to quality, affordable health care.
“Re-opening the healthcare.gov Marketplace is one of the most commonsense ways to ensure Americans can sign up for health coverage during this unprecedented public health and economic crisis. Over the last year, the Trump Administration repeatedly ignored my requests to reopen healthcare.gov for enrollment as millions were losing their jobs and health coverage. Today, barely a week in office, President Biden heeded that call and directed the reopening of the Marketplace to ensure Americans can sign up for coverage.
“President Biden also took the first steps toward reversing the policies of the last four years that undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, make it harder to enroll in health care, increase the cost of insurance coverage, and take health insurance away from some of the most vulnerable. I look forward to assisting the new Administration’s efforts to unwind these harmful, and often illegal, changes and to working together on policies that strengthen, protect, and expand access to health care.
“Finally, I am heartened by President Biden’s efforts to protect and expand access to reproductive health care in the United States and around the world. Reversing the global gag rule is critical to supporting the work of international non-profit organizations that provide reproductive health care to millions of people who may otherwise lack access to care. I’m also relieved that President Biden directed reconsideration of the harmful changes to the Title X Family Planning Program made under the Trump Administration. Trump’s action decimated the program’s network of qualified family planning providers and severely limited access to women's health care services, family planning, and contraceptive services for millions of Americans. Restoring these reproductive health programs is vital to improving health equity both at home and around the world.
“I applaud President Biden for taking early action to protect and expand access to health care and look forward to working together to build on this early progress for the people."
