CAPAC Issues Joint Statement on Senate Republicans’ Trumpcare Proposal

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued the following joint statement:

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Today, Senate Republicans released their proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:

"After hiding from the American people, Senate Republicans have finally released their health care plan. Written in secret without any hearings, committee markups, or formal debate, the Senate's bill is just as mean as the House's. Under the Senate Trumpcare bill, millions will lose their insurance thanks to rising costs. Deep Medicaid cuts will hurt the poor, disabled, and elderly in nursing homes, while the new Age Tax will penalize seniors. Out of pocket costs will soar. Women across the country will lose access to essential healthcare because this bill defunds Planned Parenthood. Two million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will be at risk of losing critical health coverage. And Americans will once again have to pay out of pocket for basic care like prescription drugs, maternity care, and emergency services, all of which come with hefty price tags. Meanwhile, drug makers, insurance companies and the richest few will line their pockets with tax cuts paid for by cutting healthcare for the less fortunate. This is yet another heartless healthcare bill that must be rejected. Instead, I urge Republicans to join us in improving the existing healthcare system which puts a priority on covering more people so that illness or injury do not mean financial ruin."

Congressman Ami Bera (CA-07), CAPAC Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair:

"This bill increases out of pocket costs and makes even deeper cuts than the House bill to health care for children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and the elderly. As a doctor, I don't want to go back to a time when too many of my patients were one catastrophe away from losing everything. Health care isn't about politics - it's about people's lives."

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), CAPAC Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair:

"What Senate Republicans presented today is not a health care plan; it's a giant tax cut for billionaires, paid for by gutting health care for struggling families. This heartless proposal is a shameless attempt to undo the progress made under the Affordable Care Act and eliminate health coverage for millions. And we cannot lose sight of the fact that this bill would disproportionately hurt people of color. Under the Affordable Care Act, we have made real progress in reducing disparities in health coverage for communities of color, including the AAPI community. This bill would be devastating to these communities and the American people. We cannot allow Congressional Republicans and President Trump to roll back our progress."