House Minority Whip Hoyer Issues Remarks on TrumpCare Vote

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., issued the following remarks at a House Democratic leadership press conference ahead of the vote on TrumpCare:

"President Trump, just a few weeks ago, looked the American public in the eye though the lens of a TV camera and said I will support a healthcare policy that will give everybody insurance at lesser cost and greater quality. That, ladies and gentlemen, was an alternative fact.

"This bill does not do that. In fact, it does exactly the opposite. Twenty-four million Americans - remember he said every American will have healthcare insurance - twenty-four million Americans will lose their insurance because of this bill. Every American will pay more and get less from their insurance policies... And if you are between 50 and 64 and not eligible for Medicare, you will pay thousands, and when I say thousands, some of you will have to pay tens of thousands more for your insurance. That is what this bill that is on the Floor today does.

"And now, in a further attempt to hurt more Americans, they eliminate the provisions that we will have essential health benefits included. Now they kept that at first and now they've gutted it. Again, in an attempt to make people who want to eliminate protections perhaps vote for this very bad bill. Leader Pelosi mentioned some of those benefits that would be lost.

"Hospitalization -you'll buy a policy, you think you've got protection, and you go to the hospital, and you call the insurance company, and they say 'sorry, that's not covered.' That's not insurance, that's not security, that's not safety. You go to the emergency room - sorry that's not covered. You have a mental health problem, you have an opioid addition, sorry - that's not covered. Prescription drugs you need - sorry that's not covered.

"This bill has become worse with every hour that it has been considered, and that's a very short amount of time. In effect, it eliminates protections for pre-existing conditions. Every parent, every individual, who was sorry they weren't able to get insurance and we're so blessed when they could get it because they had a pre-existing condition, is now effectively going to be turned around.

"The American people are getting this. The American people are getting how bad this bill is. And hopefully enough of my Republican colleagues will understand that by a ratio of three to one the American public are telling this Congress, do not pass this bill. Because they've seen its consequences, paying more for less. A substantial age tax. Our veterans being told where they can get their health care, a mandate on them.

"Hopefully there will be enough Republicans responsible and sensitive enough to the needs and desires of the American people, they will defeat this bill.

"Now I want to yield to my friend from South Carolina, the Assistant Leader, who has been deeply involved in this for a very long period of time and has been fighting so hard so Americans keep their health care security, Mr. Clyburn."

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