The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood of Illinois highlighting Democrats’ efforts to protect people with pre-existing conditions, lower heath care costs and push back against cruel Republican plans to cut Medicare and Medicaid.
(Congresswoman Lauren Underwood of Illinois delivered the Weekly Democratic Address.)
“House Democrats aren’t wasting time on our agenda of lowering costs and improving care. On Day One we moved to protect people with pre-existing conditions and the health care of all Americans when we voted to oppose the Republicans’ cruel lawsuit which seeks to destroy life-saving protections. That was just the start. […]
“In the weeks and months to come, my colleagues and I are going to keep moving forward with legislation to reverse and block the Republican sabotage of affordable health care and instead move our current system and make it more affordable – with lower health costs and lower prescription drug prices for seniors and families across America.
“So, while Republicans continue to work to limit access to care and make it more expensive – just last week President Trump’s budget proposed repealing health care protections and slashing Medicare and Medicaid – Democrats in Congress will continue fighting For The People, so you and your families can have the quality, affordable health care you deserve.”
(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)
Transcript: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
“Hi there, I’m Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, coming to you from the great state of Illinois where I represent the 14th District.
“I am one of the 64 Democratic freshmen members of Congress Americans sent to Washington to protect their health care, and I bring to this job a unique perspective: I’m a nurse. And I have a pre-existing condition that I was diagnosed with when I was a little girl. So, I know first-hand the importance of quality, affordable health care for every American.
“Nine years ago this weekend, the Affordable Care Act delivered life-saving protections for the health care of American families. For the first time ever, everyone – including Americans like me with pre-existing conditions – are protected under the law. Now, people with asthma, diabetes, and mental illness cannot be denied health insurance or charged more for it.
“But maintaining this promise for the last nine years has been hard fought – senselessly so. Since Day 1, Republicans have stopped at nothing to sabotage and repeal the law.
“I watched for years as my representative, a Republican, worked relentlessly, first with his colleagues and then with President Trump, to undermine and sabotage the law – putting millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions at risk.
“This includes nurses like me, but also small business owners, working parents, and our neighbors. One hundred and thirty million people in this country have a pre-existing condition, and none of us deserve to be discriminated against because of a health condition.
“But, President Trump is continuing to try to destroy protections for people with pre-existing conditions and cynically working to drive up health costs for families across America.
“To me, this fight is personal. As a nurse I am determined to help everyone in my community access the resources they need to live healthy lives. I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. So I ran for office. And I won. And now I’m speaking to you today as a leader in a strong, diverse class that has come to Washington to get to work For The People.
“House Democrats aren’t wasting time on our agenda of lowering costs and improving care. On Day One we moved to protect people with pre-existing conditions and the health care of all Americans when we voted to oppose the Republicans’ cruel lawsuit which seeks to destroy life-saving protections. That was just the start.
“I’m proud to have introduced legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions by overturning a Trump Administration rule that allows companies to dupe consumers by selling them junk plans – plans that don’t have to offer protections like coverage for pre-existing conditions or benefits like maternity care, prescription drugs, and hospitalization – things almost all of us will need at some point in our lives.
“And in the weeks and months to come, my colleagues and I are going to keep moving forward with legislation to reverse and block the Republican sabotage of affordable health care and instead move our current system and make it more affordable – with lower health costs and lower prescription drug prices for seniors and families across America.
“So, while Republicans continue to work to limit access to care and make it more expensive – just last week President Trump’s budget proposed repealing health care protections and slashing Medicare and Medicaid – Democrats in Congress will continue fighting For The People, so you and your families can have the quality, affordable health care you deserve.”
Any bolding has been added.
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Congress was not in session last week so there was no weekly news conference from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. There was a press event in New York calling for the passage of H.R. 6 the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. Some excerpts:
Speaker Pelosi: When people came here and they were in these tenements, they were Irish, they were German, they were Italian, they were Jewish – the list goes on – they were Chinese and others that came after. When the Italians were here, they were called WOPs, and you know what that means? Without papers. And that’s all we are talking about right now. People without papers. You would hope that all of those who then got their papers would be there to help others get theirs.[…]
Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama – up until now, all of the modern presidents have understood what immigration means to America – the constant reinvigoration of our country.
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In a nod to the news of the day: Pelosi, Schumer Joint Statement On Special Counsel Mueller’s Report
Making progress, making things better – that’s the only way to go forward. Nothing else will take hold and have a chance to actually become a part of the process. Hope Underwood can hold her seat – I’m not gonna comment on the reasons I think she’s already being primaried, less than three months since she actually took office other than to say it has nothing to do with her ability to do the job.
It is irritating to me that she is not being given at least a year to make her mark before people are coming after her. She personally made IL-14 ripe for a Democratic takeover and deserves the benefit of the doubt. I suspect that Nancy Pelosi is going to make sure that Rep. Underwood has opportunities like this weekly address to raise her profile (and raise money) for 2020.
Same here on the “oh I’m better now she’s broken through” group. Show your work, guys. She’s already shown hers and she’s aced it. I suspect you’re correct about Pelosi making sure she’s got every chance to shine – & keep her seat.