Health Equity Provisions of Build Back Better

Floor Speech

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to pass the Build Back Better Act.

The Build Back Better Act will bring transformational change to the American people, create a more equitable healthcare system, and save lives.

One of the greatest ongoing injustices in our country is just how many people do not have access to affordable healthcare. That population is overwhelmingly made up of people of color and rural Americans.

Policymakers and medical institutions have not prioritized the healthcare needs of communities of color and rural communities. The Build Back Better Act will help these communities by closing the healthcare coverage gap, create more affordable coverage options, expand benefits for seniors, invest in improving access to mental health and substance use disorders, attack the gun violence epidemic with public-health focused interventions, invest in addressing the Black maternal mortality crisis, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

Investing in affordable care, preventative care, and targeted reductions in violence will result in fewer extreme health scenarios, fewer emergency room visits, and over time, will save us money and reduce the burden on our healthcare system.

Healthcare is a human right. Passing the Build Back Better Act is a step in the right direction.

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