Booker, Pallone Highlight Threat Posed to New Jerseyans by Secret Senate Trumpcare Bill

Press Release

As Senate Republicans continue to craft health repeal legislation with a stunning lack of transparency, today U.S. Sen. Cory Booker was joined by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) along with healthcare professionals and advocates at the Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick to highlight the harmful effects that the secret Senate Republican ACA repeal bill poses to New Jerseyans. Not one public hearing or meeting has been scheduled for the legislation. Instead, ongoing discussions on the bill are being held in secret without the opportunity for public comment or amendment.

"The lengths Senate Republican leaders are willing to go to keep this legislation shrouded in secrecy underscores just how dangerous it must be for Americans," said Sen. Booker. "It's simply unacceptable Republicans plan to take their secret bill and ram it through the Senate without the American public having the opportunity to weigh in or see what's in the bill. We need to stand up and fight for the nearly half million New Jerseyans in jeopardy of losing their health insurance as a result of these cruel and callous policies."

As part of his continued call for increased transparency, Sen. Booker cosponsored the No Hearing, No Vote Act, which would prevent the Senate from considering any reconciliation bill unless it has been reported out by at least one Senate committee and has had at least one hearing on every major reported provision. Congressman Pallone helped lead the fight for transparency for the AHCA in the House, continually demanding hearings and searching for the bill that Republicans refused to share with the public.

"Today Senator Booker and I spoke with numerous families who would be negatively impacted by Trumpcare, particularly the severe cuts to Medicaid," said Rep. Pallone. "For these families, the Medicaid and CHIP programs allow their children to receive the care they desperately need. The Republicans continue to negotiate their repeal bill in secret because they know the public outrage they will face when he details of their plan become known. I will continue to do all I can to fight the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and to preserve the gains in accessible coverage and patient protects we have made."

"It was a privilege to have Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. join us today to talk about how important Medicaid is to our patients and their families," said Warren E. Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer at Children's Specialized Hospital. "Our patients come to us facing major challenges and their families should be able to focus 100 percent of their attention on their child's care and recovery."

According to the independent Congressional Budget Office, the House-passed version of the repeal bill would result in 23 million more Americans without health coverage, including nearly half a million New Jerseyans. Costs for insurance would go up, and the quality of coverage will go down, leaving Americans with substandard insurance that may not even cover the services they need.

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