Health Care & Disabilities

Since my election to Congress in 1996, healthcare has been an issue of great importance to me.  Americans have some of the greatest healthcare in the world, and one of my priorities is that all Americans have access to that quality care. But America’s healthcare system is at a crossroads, faced with millions of uninsured citizens, rising costs, quality concerns and a lack of patient control – not to mention the continued consequences of ObamaCare’s failed policies.

Americans deserve better than a law that is harmful to our economy, harmful to job creation, and absolutely detrimental to our healthcare system. Since this disastrous law was implemented more than four years ago, I have led the fight in the halls of Congress to stop it. I have voted more than 60 times to repeal, dismantle, and defund ObamaCare – a step towards victory for all Americans and job creators across the country.

ObamaCare is the most significant intrusion into the physician-patient relationship that our nation has ever experienced. It is plagued with reduced Medicare benefits for our nation's seniors, costly mandates on individuals as well as businesses, increases in our national deficit, and increased taxes for all. That is on why on May 19, 2016, Senator Ben Cassidy (R-LA) and I introduced an alternative to ObamaCare, H.R. 5284, the World’s Greatest Healthcare Plan. This legislation is our solution to the broken healthcare system created by ObamaCare.

H.R. 5284 eliminates the ObamaCare individual and employer mandates, offers all Americans a universal tax credit for health insurance premiums and reinvigorates the benefits and possibilities for Health Savings Accounts. This legislation deregulates and denationalizes the health insurance market and provides for a free-market alternative to ObamaCare. H.R. 5284 is a sustainable, non-discriminatory approach that incentivizes every American to make their own healthcare decisions and plan and save for their healthcare future. Our legislation will create a healthier society and stronger economy. For more information on the World’s Greatest Healthcare Plan, please click here.                                                                                                     

I believe we must have a system that encourages the doctor-patient relationship, allows doctors and patients more freedom to decide patient treatment, and have the ability to select from which doctors they wish to receive treatment. I remain committed to advancing pro-patient, conservative solutions to the healthcare crisis President Obama created.

Disabilities
As the father of a young man with Down syndrome, I understand that each child has unique needs. That is why I am an advocate and leader in Congress for people with disabilities. I worked tirelessly to pass the Family Opportunity Act, which gives states the option to create a Medicaid “buy-in” for families of children with disabilities whose family income or resources are up to 300 percent of federal poverty level (FPL). This landmark legislation, which became law in 2006, fixed the Medicaid ‘Catch-22’ that forces many families to make difficult choices, like foregoing a needed pay increase, just to qualify for Medicaid assistance.

In addition to my work with disability issues on Capitol Hill, I work in the 32nd Congressional District to support other parents of special needs children and have led numerous forums on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to help parents understand the opportunities for their child’s educational development.

I am a strong supporter of the Down syndrome medical research done at the National Institute of Health (NIH) as well as in the private sector. As a board member of Best Buddies International and Advisor to the President for Special Olympics Texas, I continue to work for increased development and social participation for individuals with disabilities.

I have also been deeply honored to receive a number of awards for my work with the disabled community.  In 2007, I was delighted to be featured as the Honoree at the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Gala.  In 2011, I was honored with the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. In March 2013, I was honored to receive the NDSS 2013 Champion of Change Award. In July 2013, I was recognized as a 2013 NDSS Capitol Hill Superhero for my work on behalf of people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. 

Click here to read more about my work on behalf of the Down syndrome community.