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Over the course of my time in Congress, I have heard from tens of thousands of constituents – on both sides of the aisle – some in favor of the status quo, but the vast majority of them acknowledge the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) growing failures. As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over our nation's health care policy, I am committed to working with my colleagues to improve our health care system. Doing nothing means costs will only continue to rise - as we saw rates go up here in Michigan seventeen percent this year alone.
Skyrocketing health care costs punish our nation on multiple fronts. For families and seniors, the soaring cost of medical care means less money in their pockets and forces hard choices about balancing food, rent or mortgages, and other necessities of life. For small businesses, these costs make it exceedingly more difficult to add new employees, maintain retiree coverage, and compete in the global economy. For federal, state, and local governments, rising health care costs lead to higher Medicare and Medicaid costs, as well as funding cuts for other priorities, such as infrastructure, education, and public safety. Reducing health care costs requires a collaborative, inclusive, and bipartisan approach. While there is no simple formula for lowering the mounting cost of health care, I know we can do better, and I am committed to being part of the solution. As your representative in Congress, I am proud to have joined the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. This Caucus, comprised of over 40 Republicans and Democrats in the House, was formed to ensure more households can participate in the individual market, to bring stability to the states, to reduce regulatory burdens on smaller employers, repeal the medical device tax, and provide clear guidelines for states that want to innovate on the exchange to improve coverage and create more options for consumers. But most importantly, the Problem Solvers Caucus is committed to offset these investments in a fiscally responsible manner. When we work across the aisle and govern together, Democrats and Republicans alike can find consensus on real solutions for the American people. Rest assured, I will always stand up to protect and improve our nation's health care system. Health care is a humanizing issue that has deep importance for every single American, regardless of political affiliation or socioeconomic status. Believe me, I get that. My family and I are also on the ACA Exchange, and like other members of Congress, we will continue to be part of the same health coverage as our constituents. |
