Engel Cosponsors Bill to Increase Affordability & Undo the Administration’s Sabotage of the ACA
Congressman Eliot Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee that oversees health policy, has cosponsored a comprehensive bill that would improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces by making health care more affordable and reversing the harmful Trump Administration actions that have sabotaged the ACA.
The legislation would lower health care premiums for consumers by eliminating the cap on eligibility for premium tax credits, and would increase the size of the tax credit for all income brackets. The bill would also provide additional support for out-of-pocket costs, and would make cost-sharing subsidies more generous for those below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Line. In October, President Trump decided to default on cost-sharing subsidies that help more than seven million hardworking Americans afford their out-of-pocket health care costs.
“For the last year, Republicans have worked incessantly to destroy or, at the very least, undermine the Affordable Care Act,” Engel said. “I’m proud to support comprehensive legislation that strengthens our nation's health care system by reducing costs, improving access to care and undoing some of the most harmful Trump Administration policies that sabotage the ACA.”
The legislation, entitled the Undo Sabotage and Expand Affordability of Health Insurance Act of 2018, also reverses harmful actions by the Trump Administration that undermine consumer protections in the health care system. Specifically, the bill would:
- Prevent the expansion of Association Health Plans from going into effect. These bare-bones plans are not required to include protections for people with pre-existing conditions or the Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) package.
- Prevent the Trump Administration from moving forward on a proposed rule that would allow insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions by offering junk plans that provide limited benefits and little financial protection from health care costs. The legislation would require these short-term limited duration health plans to play by the same rules as ACA-compliant plans.
- Prevent the Trump Administration from weakening protections for EHBs, which would leave consumers with less comprehensive plans that may not cover needed services, such as prescription drugs, maternity care, and substance use disorder treatment.
The legislation would also restore marketing and outreach funds that were cut by 90 percent during the 2018 ACA open enrollment period. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct marketing and outreach, and provides $100 million per year from 2019 through 2021. It also provides $100 million in Consumer Assistance Program grants for states, which delivers funding for states to conduct educational activities regarding health insurance, and creates a state innovation fund to empower states to implement new approaches to increasing enrollment. Lastly, this legislation creates a national reinsurance program to help stabilize the market and alleviate potential premium increases resulting from sabotage of the ACA.
Engel Joins Student from NY-16 to Protest Gun Violence During National Walkout Day
Congressman Eliot Engel, a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, was proud to join constituent Caroline Kirby at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to participate in National Walkout Day, a day when students across the country walked out of school to protest gun violence. Kirby, who attends Bronxville High School in New York’s 16th Congressional District, was one of thousands of students across the country who participated in today’s event, which is intended to spur action at the federal level regarding commonsense gun reforms.
“I am so proud of Caroline and all the students from the Bronx and Westchester who today took part in National Walkout Day,”Engel said. “Their spirit and activism is inspiring and makes me very optimistic about the future of our country. We have a long way to go when it comes to sensible gun reforms, and with a Republican Majority in Congress it’s never easy to pass even the most basic measures, like universal background checks or raising the age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21. But as these young students are proving every day, the day of reckoning for groups like the NRA may finally be at hand.
“As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I will do all I can to continue to earn the lifetime F rating the NRA has given me for my voting record, by promoting commonsense gun reform in the House.”
Video of Congressman Engel and Ms. Kirby outside the U.S. Capitol can be found here.
Engel Statement On The Passing of Louise Slaughter
"I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my dear friend, Louise Slaughter. Louise was a wonderful individual, an effective lawmaker, and true leader for us here in New York. A lifetime public servant, she gave herself fully to her constituents and worked relentlessly on their behalf. As a Member of Congress, Louise did remarkable work on a whole host of issues, and was the first woman to ever chair the Rules Committee. As a chair of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, she tirelessly led fights to protect women’s health and rights.
“But above all, Louise was just a fantastic person, warm and inviting to everyone she met. My condolences go out to her family—daughters Megan, Amy, Emily, her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Louise was beloved, and I'm going to miss hearing that great accent every day."
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