Heinrich Testifies During Rules Committee Hearing On Health Reform Repeal

Press Release

U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1), along with Representatives Frank Pallone and Mike Thompson, introduced an amendment to prevent the House Republicans' plan to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unless repeal would not harm the Medicare Trust Fund.

Specifically, the amendment guarantees that repeal cannot go forward unless the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Congressional Budget Office, certifies that repeal will not shorten the life of the Medicare trust fund. If OMB reports back that repeal would shorten the life of the trust fund, this amendment would stop repeal from happening.

Rep. Heinrich testified during the House Committee on Rules hearing on the importance of strengthening Medicare for New Mexico seniors.

Background:

* According to the Medicare actuary, the Affordable Care Act added 12 years of solvency to the Medicare trust fund.
* Repeal would eliminate reforms that will improve the efficiency of the Medicare program and root out waste, fraud and abuse.
* By shortening the life of the trust fund, repeal is fiscally reckless and threatens a promise made to every American who has paid into Medicare.

House Republicans' plan to repeal the health care reform law would increase the deficit by $230 billion by 2021, according to a preliminary analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. Additionally, repealing the Affordable Care Actwould roll back what the bill already has done to help millions of Americans -- from young people now able to join their parents' policies to women with breast cancer who are no longer denied health insurance coverage because they have a "preexisting condition."

A House vote on the repeal bill is expected sometime next week.

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