KEEP HEALTH COVERAGE IN REACH

Over the past 20 months, lawmakers have been confronted with unprecedented challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and they have needed new solutions to address the needs of our communities. Most alarmingly, as Americans have grappled with a volatile health care landscape, many are worried about managing their health care needs now and in the future. That's why I write today about an urgent matter as Congress finalizes this year's budget reconciliation bill: the decision in front of them to make critical health insurance subsidies permanent.

As a physician, I know firsthand the concerns of families about obtaining and affording the care they need and deserve. No American should have to worry about the affordability of a potentially life-saving surgery or medical intervention for themselves or their families. That's why it's critical for Congress to make permanent the health insurance subsidies that were extended and expanded in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

These marketplace tax credits have served as a lifeline for New Jersey families, especially throughout the pandemic. We cannot let these subsidies expire during such an uncertain time as many families are still trying to make ends meet. I hope that New Jersey's Congressional delegation will do all they can to make these critical subsidies permanent before year's end. This will make a world of difference in the lives of millions of Americans who are counting on these tax credits to afford vital health insurance this year and beyond.

Herb Conaway

Delran

The writer is an Assemblyman serving the 7th Legislative District.

Add Alexander's mural to stadium

Regarding "Display mural in its entirety" (Letters to the Editor, Dec. 2):

I also remember the unique colorful mural at Alexander's in Paramus. I have often wondered where it was and have followed the stories about its whereabouts and suggestions for its reemergence.

My suggestion is that the mural in its entirety be added to the front façade of the very non-descript and drab MetLife Stadium. It's a win-win as the stadium will be embellished with historic art work with local color and many more people will be able to view it as they pass by on the busy thoroughfares all the while remaining in Bergen County.

Vincent Conte

Rockaway

Time to revisit Second Amendment

Now that students can start learning again in school after the coronavirus pandemic is under better control, gun violence in school has started again, this time in a high school in Michigan.

The deaths and injuries would have been unnecessary and avoided if not for our 18th-century, militia-era Second Amendment. The Amendment was adopted and added to our Constitution as a necessity when we did not have a regular standing army; its purpose is stated in its beginning words: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State..." And for the Militia to defend a free State, it was necessary, of course, to give the people the right to keep and bear arms. That was the national and Constitutional purpose. But as we all know, our militia days are over, our frontier days are over, our pioneer days are over, our wild, wild West days are over. In this day and age, why is it necessary for our government to continue to give all citizens the right to keep and bear and use arms?

Sadly, our elected lawmakers, or almost all of them, seem to be afraid to raise this paramount life-and-death issue, afraid to offend the gun lobby, the NRA, with its undue influence and its false, marketing claim of patriotism. To stop or prevent gun violence, we must first deal with the root cause, the Second Amendment. Without an amendment to amend and repeal the Second Amendment, our daily gun violence and mass shootings will continue.

Jack P. Wu

Parsippany

Test all crossing southern border

I recently witnessed something at a White House press conference that was both troubling and perplexing.

Dr. Anthony Fauci was presenting the procedures the Biden administration was considering to protect us from the newly discovered omicron COVID mutation. They included a travel ban for people in South African nations and testing for people flying into the country from other nations with a possible quarantine for seven days (I am happy that the administration is trying to deter the spread of omicron into the United States).

Fauci was then asked what precautions are being taken at our southern border to identify and safeguard us from people carrying the virus. Fauci said, "That's a different issue."

Everyone coming across our southern border is not being tested for COVID and/or quarantined. Some are being transported throughout our nation. What possible explanation can there be for this stark contrast in policies concerning people entering our country during this pandemic?

Dan Kuzma

Oakland