Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1549, Helping Sick Americans Now Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HORSFORD. I thank the ranking member for your hard work on these issues, and I stand before this House to ask that all Members reject this rule.

I had an amendment, which was not approved, which is germane to H.R. 1549 and follows CutGo and would have prevented defunding of the Prevention and Public Health Fund. Unfortunately, the Rules Committee rejected this amendment in order to keep this bill purely about political posturing.

My constituents sent me here to work together to solve problems, not to relitigate legislation which has been adopted by Congress, approved by the President, upheld by the Supreme Court, and the American people support.

The Prevention and Public Health Fund, among other things, helps reduce minority population health disparities and supports health care for chronic and costly conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. There are medically underserved communities in my district and across the country that need better access to care.

My amendment would prevent siphoning of resources needed to reduce health disparities among minority populations. During the 112th Congress, the House voted repeatedly to cut this very program. Now the Rules Committee has rejected my amendment.

I urge my colleagues to vote "no'' on the rule. We need an open process, not more political gamesmanship that hurts the American people who need access to quality health care.

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