Health Care

America continues to lead the world in healthcare innovation.  The most promising new drugs, treatments, and devices are being developed in the United States to the benefit of the whole world.  To continue the advancements made in this field, I voted to support the 21st Century Cures Act.  The legislation enacts reforms to further our understanding of deadly diseases and provides billions to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control to develop treatments for illnesses that currently lack effective therapies.  Our great country has made tremendous scientific advancements in just the past few decades – let’s double down on that progress and work to rid humanity of some of its deadliest ailments.

Unfortunately, there are many who have trouble accessing healthcare or affording the insurance they need for themselves and their families.  The Affordable Care Act failed to address many of our system’s problems.  Instead, the tens of thousands of pages of regulations contained in the law have increased premiums, cut billions from important safety net programs such as Medicare, and caused many doctors to leave independent practice, reducing access for families. That said, some successful aspects of the legislation should remain in force – for example, allowing children up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ plan, and prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage to those suffering from pre-existing conditions – while others require reform.

While we work to reform the Affordable Care Act, Congress should pursue common sense proposals such as tort reform and allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines.  These and similar proposals will bring down the cost of insurance without adding billions more to the national debt.  

Finally, we made a promise to our seniors that cannot be broken.  I will fight to preserve the Medicare and Social Security benefits on which so many, including my mother, rely, while working with my colleagues to ensure both programs remain available to future generations.