Reactions From Democratic Lawmakers Underscore Importance of Build Back Better’s Measures to Lower Health Care Costs for American Families
Today, House Democrats passed the historic Build Back Better Act, which will dramatically lower health care costs and expand coverage for working families nationwide. The landmark legislation lowers insurance premiums, gives Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, expands affordable coverage to millions by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, provides historic investments in maternal health, expands Medicare benefits to cover hearing, and invests $150 billion in home care for seniors and people with disabilities. Thanks to the Build Back Better Act, millions of families can sleep easier knowing they will be able to afford the health care they need.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05): “I was proud to bring the historic Build Back Better Act to the floor to deliver affordable child care, universal pre-K, lower health care costs, and address the climate crisis.” [@LeaderHoyer, 11/19/21]
Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA-07): “Tonight, millions of Americans can sleep a little easier knowing that they will soon be able to afford many more lifesaving prescription drugs.” [@RepSusanWild, 11/19/21]
Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14): “I’m glad to support this once-in-a-generation chance to cut health care and Rx drug costs, reduce costs for families, and ensure corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share.” [@RepUnderwood, 11/19/21]
Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX-32): “Texans expect results and today I voted to deliver on lowering the cost of prescription drugs, finally expanding health coverage to the nearly 1 million Texans who have been denied Medicaid, paid family leave, universal pre-K, and making child care more affordable.” [@RepColinAllred, 11/19/21]
Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA-07): “The Build Back Better Act has passed the House!d For GA, I voted to deliver universal pre-K, Medicaid coverage opportunities to more than 600,000 Georgians, reduced health care premiums, and extending the child tax cut.” [@RepBourdeaux, 11/19/21]
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06): “This historic investment will set us on a course to create millions of good-paying jobs, lower health care costs for our communities, provide tax cuts to hard-working families, and get Americans back to work and America back to normal.” [@RepLucyMcBath, 11/19/21]
Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA-03): “I promised to fight for lower prescription drug costs, and that’s why the Build Back Better Act caps monthly insulin costs at $35 and senior’s out of pocket Rx costs at $2,000 per year, penalizes drug companies for spiking drug prices, and Medicare can now negotiate drug prices!” [@RepCindyAxne, 11/19/21]
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02): “I’m pleased that the Build Back Better Act contains a number of my district’s priorities to expand access and lower the cost of health care, invest in working families and provide support to rural communities and family farmers.” [@RepAngieCraig, 11/19/21]
Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ-03): “Congressman Kim voted to pass the Build Back Better Act to lower everyday costs for working families, create jobs, cut taxes, lower health care costs, confront climate change, and secure a brighter future for our children.” [@RepAndyKimNJ, 11/19/21]
Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV-03): “We just passed the Build Back Better Act to make one of the most transformative investments in the middle class in our nation’s history. This bill will help our working families, fight climate change, expand access to affordable health care, and create millions of jobs.” [@RepSusieLee, 11/19/21]
Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA-17): “Today the House kept our promise and passed the Build Back Better Act. This historic legislation will lower Rx prices, extend the Child Tax Credit, invest in clean energy, expand HCBS, and create new jobs. This is a huge win for PA-17 and all of Pennsylvania!” [@RepConorLamb, 11/19/21]
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07): “I’ve long championed many provisions found in the Build Back Better framework – lowering prescription drug prices, extending the refundable Child Tax Credit, and tackling the climate crisis.” [@RepSpanberger, 11/19/21]
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07): “The Build Back Better Act delivers meaningful results for Houston families, lowering costs for health, child, and family care; investing in our kids’ education and opportunities; and expanding access to heath care. People in TX-07 and across the country will benefit for years to come.” [@RepFletcher, 11/19/21]
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-8): “This bill also breaks the seal on addressing the out-of-control costs of prescription drugs by finally allowing Medicare Part B and D to begin negotiating for lower prices. It also puts a cap on the monthly cost of insulin at $35 per month, while seniors’ out-of-pocket costs on medications will be capped at no more than $2,000 per year – a monumental step that will change millions of lives.” [@RepSlotkin, 11/19/21]
Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY-04): “After taking appropriate time to review the bill and its corresponding estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, today I voted to advance the Build Back Better Act. There are many policies in this bill that will improve the lives of my constituents, especially the agreement I helped finalize to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for seniors, and the historic investments to combat climate change.” [@RepKathleenRice, 11/19/21]
Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA-10): “The House just sent the Build Back Better Act to the Senate! Passing this means new good-paying jobs in the Valley, capping insulin at $35 a month, 1 million new affordable homes, fighting climate change, and is paid for by making corporations pay their fair share.” [@RepJoshHarder, 11/19/21]
Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA-49): “The Build Back Better Act is going to make it easier to afford basic living expenses like prescription drugs, child care, and housing. Families struggling to put food on the table will get more help thanks to provisions similar to my Stop Child Hunger Act, and extending the Child Tax Credit will give families a tax cut to help cover the costs of raising kids.” [@RepMikeLevin, 11/19/21]
Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05): “The Build Back Better Act helps families raising children; those seeking better educational and employment opportunities; lowers prescription costs, expands affordable housing, childcare, and healthcare; provides paid family leave and addresses climate change.” [@RepJahanaHayes, 11/19/21]
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-01): “Build Back Better lowers the cost of prescription drugs by letting Medicare negotiate with drug companies, capping costs, and reducing premiums. We are making good on promises to stand up to the drug companies and lower prices.” [@RepChrisPappas, 11/19/21]
Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA-08): “I just voted for the Build Back Better Act! This historic bill will down the cost of health care and prescription drugs, set the U.S. on course to meet its climate goals, create millions of family wage jobs, and ensure families have access to affordable, quality child care and pre-K.” [@RepKimSchrier, 11/19/21]
Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-09): “Our historic Build Back Better Act has passed. House Democrats worked hard to deliver a bill that will lower the everyday costs that burden working families and make investments to expand and improve health care, combat climate change, and extend the Child Tax Credit, and more.” [@RepDarrenSoto, 11/19/21]
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04): “This bill will help combat the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs while also expanding access to quality health care. It will finally address the unmet needs of millions of Americans who seek care for a loved one. The pandemic has made it clear: there is a gaping hole in our economic system without support for caregiving. Families should not have to decide between caring for loved ones and maintaining steady employment.” [@BettyMcCollum04, 11/19/21]
