“Thank you, Secretary Burwell, for joining us this afternoon to discuss your agency’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017. I appreciate your leadership on health care because you understand that investments up front - whether it’s providing health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, prevention, or public health initiatives - pay off later on.
“Chief among the positive investments we have seen under the Obama Administration is the Affordable Care Act:
* Nearly 18 million previously uninsured Americans now have health insurance.
* The uninsured rate in our country has been cut nearly in half since 2013.
* The ACA has substantially slowed the growth of health care costs.
* 129 million Americans no longer have to worry about being denied health coverage or unfairly charged higher premiums because of pre-existing conditions.
* Hospital readmissions are down thanks to a significant decrease in hospital-related infections, saving 50,000 lives since 2011.
* During the last open enrollment period, nearly 13 million Americans signed up for health insurance plans though the state and federal health exchanges.
“Behind these statistics are what it means in the lives of innumerable Americans who have been positively impacted by the ACA. I met a woman 10 days ago with breast cancer who said that the ACA saved her life after she lost her job and employer-provided health insurance.
“The President’s budget proposes important reforms to Medicare as well, improving the program’s efficiency and extending its solvency.
“CMS also finalized advance care planning codes this past fall, making it easier for patients and their families to discuss important end-of-life care with their health care providers.
“Many health challenges remain that the Administration is tackling head on, like the opioid abuse epidemic. The President’s budget includes $1 billion in funding to address this epidemic. It also includes $500 million in new mandatory funding to improve mental health care.
“I’d also like to touch on an issue close to home. What has happened in Flint is nothing short of an outrage, and the human and financial costs are significant. Last weekend, I was in Flint with colleagues from the Michigan delegation, in part to build support for Congressman Kildee’s bill. The legislation would help improve infrastructure, provide much-needed services to families and children, boost economic development, and monitor health in the long-term. I’ll continue to work closely with the Administration and state officials to address this extremely urgent issue.
“HHS has been a leader on fighting poverty and expanding opportunity for all Americans by improving the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and child care assistance to support families who are trying to work their way out of poverty. I look forward to working with you to ensure that TANF funds are used to support work, efforts to get families out of poverty, and increase effectiveness in supporting and sustaining work for low-income parents.
“Secretary Burwell, I again thank you for testifying before our Committee today and I look forward to building on our efforts together moving forward."
