At today's House Energy Committee hearing, Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) slammed the GOP budget.
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00:00We're recognized for three minutes for an opening statement.
00:02Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
00:03So today we are here with a mandate from congressional Republicans
00:07to squeeze our nation's finances into a framework that requires devastating cuts.
00:13And these cuts are not just a line item on a piece of paper.
00:17They impact people's lives, our friends, our family, our neighbors, our constituents.
00:23Now, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said that they're only trying to strengthen Medicaid.
00:28But what they don't tell you is that this bill we take up today effectively guts the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
00:36It kicks 13.7 million people off of their health insurance.
00:41It raises health care costs for everybody else.
00:44It shifts Medicaid costs to the states as they are struggling to fill holes in their budgets
00:50caused by other funding freezes, workforce cuts, and budget cuts.
00:55This bill handcuffs the state's ability to fund their share of Medicaid.
00:59It will further stress an already stressed and underfunded provider network, especially in rural areas.
01:08And for what?
01:09To fund tax cuts for the wealthiest few.
01:13And as a result, millions of people will suffer.
01:16People like my constituent, Jessica, who was born with her umbilical cord wrapped tightly around her neck,
01:25restricting oxygen and causing brain damage.
01:29Now 36 years old, Jessica reads at a pre-K level due to the intellectual impairment resulting from her traumatic birth.
01:38Jessica and her family rely on Medicaid to pay the bills for her doctor's appointments.
01:42And a Medicaid waiver allows her family to care for Jessica in their home.
01:48As her sister wrote to me, we love her and we want to take care of her.
01:54We didn't want Jessica to end up in a group home.
01:57She has only known family caring for her.
02:01And yes, I'm paid a salary to keep my sister at home, her home, and take care of her.
02:06But it is not a handout.
02:10Families like mine aren't asking for handouts.
02:12We're asking for help that allows us to provide the best care possible to lighten our loads.
02:19Mr. Chairman, my Democratic colleagues and I have shared stories with you today about our constituents, the faces of Medicaid.
02:28On their own, each is a powerful testament to the importance of Medicaid.
02:33But together, they are a glimpse into the kaleidoscope of nearly 80 million Americans across the country
02:42whose health care is in the crosshairs of the cuts in this bill we will take up today,
02:48all to give tax breaks to a sliver of the wealthiest Americans.
02:53I urge my colleagues to keep these constituents, these stories in mind as you rush to find tax cuts for the wealthiest few in America.
03:04I yield back.
03:05Gentle lady yields back.
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