Rep. Carbajal Issues Statement on Senate Healthcare Repeal

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., issued the following statement on the Senate health care bill:

"For weeks, Senate Republicans shut the public out of writing their healthcare repeal legislation, and if passed, American families will be shut out of affordable health care, too.

"The Senate finally released their backroom deal today, which leaves millions without access to health care coverage and increases out-of-pocket and premium costs - all in order to fund large tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. This legislation callously allows insurance companies to discriminate against those with preexisting conditions, inevitably pricing many out of the insurance market. Covering essential health benefits is no longer required, including maternity coverage and prescription drugs. It cuts over $75 billion cut from the Medicare trust fund, shortening the life of this critical program, and deeply slashes Medicaid funding.

"The bottom line is this legislation shamefully forces working and middle-class families to pay significantly more for less coverage.

"I urge my colleagues in the Senate to summon the courage to reject this disastrous health care repeal."