WASHINGTON, DC - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) today released the following statement on H.Res. 5, the Republican rules package for the 115th Congress. Prior to the passage of H.Res. 5, Rep. Neal also spoke on the House Floor in opposition to the rules package - click here to view his remarks.
“I am deeply concerned about a number of troubling changes in the Republican rules package, including new ways for House Republicans to hide from the American people the true cost of repealing the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans continue to cover up for a flawed repeal plan that would dramatically increase federal spending, raise taxes on the middle class, and take away health insurance coverage and popular consumer protections from millions of Americans.
“The facts are crystal clear: the ACA has and continues to work. Just look at some cost stabilizing and quality aspects of the ACA: it has extended the Medicare trust fund solvency for 10 years; about 137 million Americans have access to recommended preventative services without cost sharing; and Medicare enrollees have avoided 565,000 unnecessary hospital admissions.
“What’s worse than taking away a program that is already helping millions of middle class families is lying to the American people about the real cost of doing so. Despite Republicans’ efforts to sweep their healthcare failures under the rug, Democrats will continue to work to expose the hard cost of repeal."
