The publication is reproduced in full below:
MAKING UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS A REALITY
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HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, since its creation in 1965, Medicare has provided health insurance and access to quality health care for hundreds of millions of Americans over the age of 65. Since then Congress has worked to ensure that Medicare is adapting to meet the needs of the American people. In 1972, Medicare benefits were extended to people under 65 years with long-term disabilities. Hospice care was added in 1982. And, a prescription drug benefit was added in 2003. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which I strongly supported, strengthened Medicare coverage for preventive care and reduced patient liability for prescription drug costs.
Currently, 44 million Americans--15 percent of the U.S. population--
are enrolled in Medicare. While not perfect, Medicare is without a doubt one of the most successful, lifesaving, and life improving programs ever established by the federal government. Throughout my career in Congress I have fought to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security because these safety net programs provide essential health and economic support that is often the difference between a person living in poverty or living a quality life with dignity.
After enduring the COVID-19 pandemic for the past 14 months, there can be no doubt that health care for the American people must be considered a right, not a privilege. Access to quality, affordable health care is essential to our individual well-being, our families, our community, and our economy. Because universal access to quality health care must be considered a right, last month I introduced H. J. Res. 44--an amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing health care for all Americans. Until it is enshrined in the Constitution, I believe we will continue to have a health care system of winners and losers which will cause physical and economic hardship for millions of Americans. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it must be that policymakers need to take action to ensure no one is left behind, that health disparities are reduced, and that a preventable or treatable condition should never result in disability, death, or economic ruin.
My commitment is to work to expand health care access, improve the quality of care, and to ensure that all Americans who need health care coverage can have it. I will fight to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. I will work to expand the ACA and strengthen its provisions such as protecting those with preexisting conditions. And, where I have direct responsibility as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will work to strengthen TRICARE for the roughly 9.6 million enlisted men, women, and their families defending our freedom worldwide; strengthen the Indian Health Service (IHS) which serves roughly 2.56 million Native Americans and Alaska Natives with unique, specialized health services; and, strengthen the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for the millions of men and women who have served our nation and deserve the quality care they've been promised.
There is so much work to be done. Still, too many Americans are being left behind. Too many people will not have access to quality, affordable health care. So, I have come to the realization that it is once again time to expand access within Medicare.
I believe that now is the time to start the arduous legislative process of working to provide universal coverage to all Americans and the best policy option to achieve this goal on the table today is the Medicare for All Act (H.R. 1976). This legislation will provide every American with health coverage, while also eliminating out-of-pocket costs for patients and cutting the cost of prescription drugs. Additionally, H.R. 1976 would include vision, dental, hearing, mental health, and substance abuse treatment to ensure comprehensive physical and mental health services for all Americans.
After many discussions over the past few years, I want to extend my appreciation to the bill's authors for working with me to address the major concerns that I had with previous versions of this legislation. In particular, previous bills would have forced the VHA, TRICARE, and IHS to be disbanded and folded into the same patient population as all other Americans. This was unacceptable to me based upon long standing commitments and obligations that our federal government has made to these patient populations.
With those concerns removed, I am proud to co-sponsor H.R. 1976. The goal is now clear, let's work to ensure that every American can access guaranteed health care as a right, not a privilege. It is my belief that the Medicare for All Act is the legislative vehicle that can best serve the needs and desires of the American people for affordable, quality, and universal health care.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 83
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