Congressional Black Caucus

Floor Speech

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank my colleagues, Mr. HORSFORD and Mr. JEFFRIES, for leading the CBC's important discussion on Republicans' refusal to bring a clean continuing resolution to the floor and the resulting government shutdown.

The Republican course is a partisan path to nowhere, and it simply leaves our workers with fewer jobs, our families with less security, and our country with less certainty and stability.

The government shut down has left hundreds of thousands of Federal employees immediately and indefinitely furloughed.

Recruiting and hiring for Veteran jobs have ceased. Federal assistance to school districts, colleges and universities, and vocational rehabilitation agencies have been severely curtailed.

Important government research into life-threatening diseases, environmental protection, and other areas has halted.

This has all occurred because some Republicans do not like a law already enacted, that a majority of Americans support. A law that already has helped millions of American families, individuals, and businesses.

Reforming our nation's health care system is a historic opportunity to make health care more affordable and bring the kind of change we were all elected to achieve for the American people.

It's called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and it secures affordable, high quality and accessible health care. It is about establishing healthcare as a right, not a privilege, for every American.

It is about wellness and prevention, economic security and entrepreneurship, and strengthening the middle class. This historic law is about creating a healthier America.

October 1st marked the first day the public could enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace created by the ACA.

For many African-Americans, this date marked the beginning of fewer health inequities, increased access to quality care, more affordable health coverage, and greater investments in prevention.

African-Americans and other underserved populations often have higher rates of disease, fewer treatment options, and reduced access to healthcare.

The ACA addresses these overwhelming health inequities through several initiatives including data collection, prevention, workforce development, and quality improvement strategies.

Thanks to the ACA, 7.3 million African-Americans with private health insurance can now receive preventive services, like wellness visits, and diabetes and cancer screenings, at no extra cost, 4.5 million African-Americans who have Medicare coverage can now receive preventive services, like flu shots and blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, at no extra cost, 6.8 million uninsured African-Americans may be eligible for coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

The new Health Insurance Marketplace is healthcare, made simple. It builds on the last three years, during which many Americans have already seen lower costs and better coverage.

Because of the ACA, 105 million Americans have already received access to free preventive services, 6.6 million Seniors have saved more than $7 billion on their prescription drugs.

More than 100 million Americans no longer have a lifetime limit on their insurance coverage.

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about saving lives. In Ohio, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there will be lower than expected premiums in the new Health Insurance Marketplace.
Ohio consumers will be able to choose from an average of 46 health plans in the Marketplace.

For every 10 individuals who are uninsured in Ohio, 6 will be able to find coverage for $100 or less per month, taking into account premium tax credits and Medicaid coverage. As a lifelong healthcare advocate, as a stroke survivor, and as an African-American woman, I know the importance of protecting access to affordable healthcare coverage for all Americans, particularly those who are the most in need.
The new Marketplaces across the country will mean brand-new health and economic security for millions of Americans. It means a healthier, more prosperous nation.

I look forward to helping educate the American people about the benefits of the ACA and continuing to move forward with its implementation. But, with all of the benefits the ACA brings to our country, there are some who still refuse to see how the law helps the American people.

The ACA is the law of the land, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court and which is currently being implemented to the benefit of millions of Americans.

I urge Speaker BOEHNER and the other House Republican leaders to follow the will of the American people--end their politically-manufactured government shutdown, and pass the clean Senate CR, so that the government can get back to helping the American people.

I thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important issue.

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