Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) opposed two Republican bills designed to cripple the landmark Affordable Care Act, which would punish states for complying with the law by removing grants designed to help them set up state health insurance exchanges. The bills would also eliminate funding to construct and improve school-based health centers.

To view Rep. Engel’s comments on the two bills - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNR6NK3hpzU and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjqc4lofPE4.  The House voted in favor of H.R. 1213 today, despite Rep. Engel’s opposition, and will vote on H.R. 1214 tomorrow.

“As President Ronald Reagan famously said, ‘There you go again.’ Once again, the GOP is wasting valuable time by pushing legislation destined to go nowhere.  Instead of leading the discussion on vital issues such as high gas prices, fixing our flawed education and immigration systems, or providing the promised-yet-forgotten ‘laser-like’ focus on jobs, we are instead fighting the battles of the previous Congress,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.

“Even worse, they are pursing bills that would worsen health care services for millions of Americans.  For a party which once stood for states’ rights, it is strange that they would vote to cripple states’ efforts to improve access to affordable health coverage for their citizens.  Despite their rhetoric, the bottom line with these bills is that they are the latest in the Majority’s plans to chip away at the Affordable Care Act for the sole purpose of appealing to their corporate allies and right-wing political supporters back home.  They have once again chosen politics over governing,” added Rep. Engel.

The Repeal of Grants to States to Set Up Health Insurance Exchanges (HR 1213), would take away grants created in the Affordable Care Act to help states comply with the law and establish a robust new competitive insurance marketplace where patients can get affordable health coverage.  The exchanges ease buying affordable health insurance by individuals and small businesses, and provide improved health care delivery, quality and efficiency.  So far, 49 states and the District of Columbia have shown an interest in creating their own exchange marketplace, and these grants help the states create them as they deal with current budget difficulties.  Without the grants, states would be forced to compromise other services to pay for it, raise taxes, or rely on other federal government help.

“I am a proud supporter of the Affordable Care Act.  This law not only helps millions more American men, women and children to better manage their health, but substantially slows the spiraling costs of health coverage.  Without this law, health costs would keep rising to where they would wreak havoc on our economy,” said Rep. Engel.

The Repeal of Grants for Construction of School-based Health Centers (H.R. 1214) repeals grants enabling states to build or renovate school-based health centers.  These facilities are the prime source of health care for nearly two million children and adolescents nationwide.  They are especially important for low-income families and those in great need to affordable services.  Once again, states will be hindered in attempts to improve facilities to better accommodate the increased number of patients covered under the Affordable Care Act.

“My district has many school-based health centers, and too many of my constituents need these facilities for me to allow Republican attacks on them.  The GOP claims to be against mandatory appropriations such as this, but they were just fine including them in their Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.  You can’t have it both ways,” said Rep. Engel.

“Nobody enjoys watching reruns, and I would like to stop reliving the 2009-2010 legislative agenda.  2011 presents plenty of challenges for us to legislate and I call on the Majority to start doing so before the second half of the year passes us by,” said Rep. Engel.

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