News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Leads New York City Delegation to Protect Public Health Preparedness Program

 Congressman Eliot L. Engel led the entire New York City Congressional Delegation on a letter to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) about changes to the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), which could affect the City’s ability to respond to public health threats.

“Having a robust public health infrastructure is critical to protecting the City from 21^st century health threats,” said Rep. Engel. “The Hospital Preparedness Program provides crucial resources to support these efforts. Any changes to program need to account for the complex and unique threats that urban centers like New York City face.”

“The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response must explain what methodology led to a cut to New York City’s Hospital Preparedness Program funding,” said New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “Coordination between public health departments and the health care system is critical for public health emergency response. As we are learning from the current coronavirus outbreak, the only way to prevent another outbreak is to maintain vigilance—and if you start cutting the budget, the cost down the road will be even greater. We look forward to working with Representative Engel and the New York City delegation on this important issue.”

HPP is the only source of federal funding for helping health care systems prepare and respond to complex health threats, including natural and man-made incidents. In 2019, ASPR proposed changes to HPP’s grant formula which could eliminate nearly 5% of the City’s HPP dollars, affecting local hospitals such as Montefiore Hospital-Wakefield Campus. This letter seeks additional information about ASPR’s changes to HPP.

Congressman Engel has been a long-time proponent of HPP. On June 4, 2019, he supported passage of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act, which was signed into law and provides $385 million annually for HPP over the next five years. Engel is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee.

ENGEL STATEMENT ON THE END OF SENATE REPUBLICANS’ SHAM TRIAL

Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“There’s no such thing as an acquittal when you don’t have a real trial. The Senate’s sham process was nothing more than an extension of the President’s coverup. Today’s vote was the ultimate demonstration that the Party of Lincoln has become the Party of Trump, and that for Republican lawmakers—with one courageous exception—there’s no duty or oath higher than showing loyalty to this President.

“The evidence is overwhelming that the President deserved to be impeached and removed. His abuse of power was blatant. His obstruction of a legitimate congressional inquiry was unprecedented; not even Richard Nixon went so far. There can be no justification for his actions. Those who voted not to remove him acted out of sheer partisanship and did damage to the institutions that underpin our democracy.

“Despite the Senate Republicans’ near total abdication of their responsibility, the House will not go along with the notion that this President is above the law. The Foreign Affairs Committee will push ahead with our oversight efforts to hold this administration accountable and to demonstrate to the American people that some of us in Washington still believe in the Constitution and the rule of law.”

News from Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Signs on as Original Cosponsor of the Protect SNAP Act

Legislation introduced to fight new Trump Admin. rule that cuts SNAP benefits for 700k people

 Congressman Eliot Engel has signed on as an original cosponsor of the Protect SNAP Act, legislation introduced today which would restore and protect the current regulations surrounding able-bodied SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients, as well as prevent the use of funds to carry out a new Trump Administration rule that would drastically cut SNAP eligibility.

SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Earlier this week, the Trump Administration announced a new rule that would create work requirements for SNAP recipients. The move would result in nearly 700,000 people losing SNAP benefits.

“As I said when this move was announced, slashing SNAP benefits for nearly 700,000 people during the holiday season is beyond heartless,” Engel stated. “Time and again the Trump Administration has demonstrated its willingness to hurt the most vulnerable among us. Whether its trying to take away health care or trying to take away food, they don’t care how many people are made to needlessly suffer. House Democrats are once again fighting back against this cruel Administration with the introduction of the Protect SNAP Act, which will undo this new rule and allow families who need it most to continue putting food on their tables. President Trump may be fine allowing people to starve, but I’m not. I’m proud to join this bill as original cosponsor.”

The Protect SNAP Act was authored by Reps. Barbara Lee and Rosa L. DeLauro.

Engel Statement on Passage of H.R.4 the Voting Rights Advancement Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel issued the following statement on today’s House passage of H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation he was an original cosponsor of that would protect minority groups in states that have recently worked to suppress voting rights:

“The right to vote is sacred and must not be infringed upon. Sadly, our nation has a long and even bloody history of racial voter suppression, but lately that suppression has been super charged by the terrible Shelby County v. Holder decision. That case gutted key protections of the Voting Rights Act and since that decision in 2013, states have implemented measures to prevent certain groups from accessing the ballot through voter ID laws, closing polling locations, and even purging voter rolls.

“We can’t stand still and allow these conservative state legislatures to destroy our democracy. I am proud to help pass H.R. 4 today, as it represents a major step toward ensuring every citizen has the ability to vote. The bill develops a process for states that have made discriminatory changes in their election procedures, forcing them to receive preclearance with the Department of Justice before the changes take effect. It would undoubtedly curtail and prevent the spread of discriminatory voting practices used in many states, but we can do even more to ensure fair and free elections.

“I have introduced a Constitutional Amendment to overhaul our elections, H.J.Res. 9. My amendment takes a comprehensive approach to fixing our voting system, by abolishing the electoral college, making election day a national holiday, automatically registering voters at 18-years-old, and outlawing political gerrymandering. It’s time we leveled the playing field for all Americans when it comes to the right to vote.”

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Statement on House Passage of Anti-Robocall Legislation

“In these hyper-partisan times there is one thing everyone seems to agree on: robocalls are a terrible nuisance. The TRACED Act is designed to combat unwanted robocalls that pester Americans every day and expose the most vulnerable among us to schemes, scams, and deceptions. If we can get this bill through the Senate and signed into law, this legislation will put a serious dent in the robocall problem as we know it. I am hopeful the Senate will take this up quickly, and once its passed we should turn our focus to some of the other bills aimed at ending abusive phone practices, like my Anti-Swatting Act.”

BACKGROUND:

The TRACED Act:

• Requires carriers to offer call-authentication technology to consumers and small businesses—in rural and urban America—at no additional charge;
• Requires opt-in or opt-out robocall blocking be offered at no additional charge to consumers;
• Gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the ability to step up enforcement actions against unlawful robocalls with a longer statute of limitations and increased fines in certain cases;
• Pushes the Department of Justice to bring more criminal prosecutions against criminal robocallers;
• Requires the FCC to work to stop one-ring scams;
• Helps the FCC and responsible carriers traceback and cutoff suspect phone companies that are responsible for sending vast numbers of unlawful robocalls; and
• Protects patients, doctors and hospitals from unlawful robocalls.

Americans reportedly received an astounding 48 billion robocalls last year, and this number is expected to increase to as high as 75 billion this year. Robocalls are one of the most complained-about issues in the United States. The FCC receives roughly 200,000 complaints each year about robocalls.

Engel has worked for years to stop abusive phone practices. He has introduced legislation to combat swatting—the act of falsifying caller ID information to mislead law enforcement—and is an original cosponsor of the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (H.R. 946), the Repeated Objectionable Bothering of Consumers on Phones (ROBOCOP) Act (H.R. 2298), and is a cosponsor of the Regulatory Oversight Barring Obnoxious (ROBO) Calls and Texts Act (H.R. 2355). Engel is a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Engel Statement on Reforming FDA Oversight of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

“It is unacceptable that our nation’s children are exposed to chemicals that have a well-documented history of causing adverse health events”

On December 4, 2019 the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on modernizing federal oversight of cosmetics and personal care products. Congressman Engel, a top Member of the committee, submitted a statement for the record underscoring the public health need for updated regulations:

“Chairman Pallone and Chairwoman Eshoo thank you for holding today’s hearing on modernizing FDA regulations for cosmetics and personal care products.

“Every day, millions of Americans use these products. According to the Environmental Working Group, women on a daily basis use 12 products containing 168 unique ingredients while men use six products with 85 different ingredients. Even with the widespread use of these products, FDA has been given limited tools and resources to oversee this nearly $80 billion industry.

“The absence of FDA regulation has led to egregious cases of consumer harm. In June of this year, a retailer specializing in cosmetics and personal care products for young women recalled three makeup products because they contained asbestos fibers. Similarly, a large manufacturer recently recalled its baby powder after the FDA found asbestos in it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asbestos exposure can lead to lung diseases and pulmonary cancers.

“It is unacceptable that our nation’s children are exposed to chemicals that have a well-documented history of causing adverse health events. Furthermore, these cases underscore the dire need for modernizing federal oversight of cosmetic and personal care products.

“I commend Chairman Pallone and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky for their work on legislation to reform our nation’s broken regulatory system.” 

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel, Bilirakis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Curb Suicides

 Congressmen Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Members of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, introduced bipartisan legislation today to curb the nation’s rising suicide rate.

The Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act would allocate significant federal funding to emergency departments to help identify and treat those with a high-risk suicide.

“The rising rates of suicides in the United States is a public health emergency that deserves immediate Congressional action,” said Congressman Engel. “In my home state of New York, suicide rates have increased by nearly 30% since 2000. I am pleased to join Congressman Bilirakis, on this important, bipartisan legislation which will leverage the skills of nurses and emergency departments professionals, who are trained in identifying and treating at-risk individuals, to help end this crisis and save lives.”

“These staggering statistics make it clear that we need improved methods for identifying and assessing the suicide risks of emergency department patients,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Some of the communities in my district have the highest rates of suicide per capita in the nation. As part of my long-term commitment to fixing our broken mental healthcare system, I want to be sure that we enhance the procedures surrounding the discharge of patients who have attempted suicide or exhibit suicidal ideation to maximize the likelihood that they obtain appropriate follow-up care. Our bill is the first step in making that happen.”

“Emergency departments are often the place where patients with suicide risk factors, such as behavioral health conditions or substance use disorders,” said Emergency Nurses Association President Patti Kunz Howard, PhD, RN. “Suicide screening is an essential component of ensuring patient safety. This legislation would ensure that every emergency department has a plan in place to screen every patient.”

Between 1999 and 2016, the suicide rate increased by nearly 30% in New York, mirroring trends at the national level. Suicide claims about 47,000 Americans each year, making it the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States. 

To help end this public health crisis, Congressmen Engel and Bilirakis introduced the Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act. This bipartisan measure would allocate $100 million over a five-year period to support emergency department programs to prevent suicide specifically by:

• Training emergency department clinicians to identify patients at a high-risk of suicide
• Developing programs to coordinate the care and follow-up of those with an elevated risk of suicide
• Supporting the recruitment and retainment of behavioral health professionals who specialize in treating individuals experiencing suicidal ideation
• Incentivizing the development of new approaches such as telehealth to help those at a high risk of suicide 

Engel Statement on 10^th Anniversary of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act

 “10 years ago we passed one of the most consequential civil rights bills in modern times, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This bill, which I was proudly an original cosponsor on in 2001 and continued to cosponsor until its passage, made it possible to prosecute hate crimes based on sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability and gender identity. It is a landmark law in this country, and has become even more important today with the rise in hate crimes over the past several years.

“While some so-called leaders continue to stoke the flames of bigotry, House Democrats are committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all Americans. Remember, it was our Democratic House, along with a Democratic Senate and President Obama, that enacted the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

“The Hate Crimes Prevention Act also laid the groundwork for another major piece of legislation that we’re currently fighting to advance, the Equality Act. It’s critical for us to extend all federal protections to every American, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The House passed the Equality Act back in May, but as usual, Senate Republicans refuse to advance the bill forward. It’s long past time that our federal laws fully reflected our values as Americans.”

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

ENGEL STATEMENT FOLLOWING VISIT TO GUATEMALA

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, made the following statement following his visit to Guatemala as part of a congressional delegation:

“I joined Speaker Pelosi and a bipartisan delegation in Guatemala where we focused on the root causes that drive child and family migration to the United States. It continues to be clear to me that U.S. assistance to the Northern Triangle has been transformative and must be immediately restored.

“It was particularly moving to meet with the staff of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) whose work I have supported since the very start because of its efforts to fight corruption. While I am disappointed that CICIG’s mandate is not being renewed, I urge the Guatemalan government and judicial sector to ensure that the Commission’s efforts to end impunity continue in the months and years ahead.

“I am pleased by Guatemala’s preparations for Sunday’s presidential run-off and urge a free, fair process to move forward.

“The future of Guatemala’s democracy will depend on a commitment to fighting corruption and respecting the rule of law. Ultimately, this how we ensure that children and families are not forced to make the dangerous trek north—not by cutting off U.S. assistance.”

Background

Earlier this year, Chairman Engel introduced the United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act (H.R. 2615) to restore foreign assistance to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The legislation passed the House on July 15.

Engel Introduces Legislation to Protect Seniors from Wasteful Drug Spending

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel introduced legislation today to protect Medicare beneficiaries from wasteful spending on excessively large single-use drug vials.

Each year, Medicare and private health plans waste about $3 billion on cancer medications that are packaged in oversized vials. This packaging gives patients far more medication than they need, forcing seniors and others to pay for unnecessary drugs. Many of these same medications are sold abroad in smaller vials, producing savings for individuals and their health care systems. The Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs (REFUND) Act would enable seniors and the Medicare program to recoup money wasted on oversized drug vials.

“There are about 100,000 NY-16 constituents with Medicare drug coverage, many of whom live on fixed incomes,” Rep. Engel said. “The reality is that many of these seniors do not have money lying around, after paying for groceries and rent, to spend on extra medication that will ultimately be tossed in the trash. The REFUND Act will put money back in the pockets of seniors and beneficiaries while improving Medicare’s solvency so that it is available for our children and grandchildren.”

The REFUND Act builds on Congressman Engel’s work to improve seniors’ programs. In June 2019, he introduced the Guaranteed 3 Percent COLA for Seniors Act, H.R. 3389, which would guarantee every seniora reasonable Social Security cost-of-living adjustment and an increase of at least three percent.

Congressman Engel is a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee.

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

Engel Calls for Greater Gun Control at Westchester Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel issued the following statement on last night’s vigil in Westchester for victims of gun violence: 

“Last evening, the Westchester community came together in a beautiful showing of solidarity for the victims of this weekend’s awful gun violence. I was proud to join them and to remind the President and Moscow Mitch that we won’t stand a moment longer for their inaction. They work for the American people, not the NRA, and the American people want sensible gun control.

“The actions we need to take are obvious and have been staring the GOP in the face for years. We need expanded background checks. We need to ban assault weapons. We need to ban high capacity magazines. We need to ban armor-piercing ammunition. Video games and social media aren’t to blame for these shootings. And couching our national gun violence epidemic as a ‘mental health issue’ is just another way to avoid addressing the problem, while appeasing fanatics in the NRA.

“In order to move forward the President must also take stock in his own behavior, and how his words stoke the flames. You cannot say we need to condemn hatred and racism while simultaneously stoking hatred and racism for political gain. The American people aren’t stupid.”

Engel on the 54^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

  “54 years ago today, Congress passed one of the most meaningful pieces of legislation in our nation’s history, the Voting Rights Act. This landmark bill established the principle of fairness in our electoral system and removed longstanding discriminatory barriers to voting. But even in 2019, many still face undue burdens when it comes to exercising their right to vote. Shelby v. Holder set our country back tremendously by opening the door for a flurry of state activity aimed at suppressing voter turnout. We can’t sit idly by and allow GOP lawmakers to circumvent the will of the people. 

“I’ve introduced a comprehensive Constitutional Amendment, H.J.Res. 9, to fix many of the problems plaguing our electoral system, including the outdated and regressive electoral college and political gerrymandering. We need to abolish both and we also need to get big money out of politics, which my amendment would also do. Many of the provisions I included in H.J. Res. 9 made their way into the major electoral and ethics reform bill that I voted for and House Democrats passed earlier in the year, H.R. 1 the For the People Act.

“While passage of H.R. 1 by the Senate would be a tremendous step forward, H.J.Res. 9 represents my full vision for a more inclusive approach to voting rights in America. On this 54^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, I urge my colleagues to think bigger when it comes to protecting the right to vote.”

ENGEL STATEMENT ON ADMINISTRATION’S PLAN TO WITHHOLD FUNDING FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS EFFORTS 

 Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to freeze foreign affairs funding approved by Congress:

“This Administration’s contempt for Congress is astounding. When Congress decides how much we spend on foreign assistance, it isn’t a suggestion. It’s the law, backed up by the constitution.

“This dangerous action would undermine global health efforts. It would stymie attempts to stop democratic backsliding and deter Russia’s harmful influence. It would devastate our ability to project American values and leadership across the globe. And when American troops are deployed to so many countries around the world, the last thing we should do is cut funding for the diplomats who can keep them from putting their lives on the line.

“President Trump and Secretary Pompeo should follow the law and stop playing politics with our foreign affairs budget. If they move ahead with this plan, I’ll use the full power of the Foreign Affairs Committee to reverse their efforts and to demand answers about why this Administration seems determined to ignore the will Congress and undermine American leadership.”

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Slams GOP Continuing Efforts to Repeal Health Care

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a founding member of the Medicare For All Caucus and top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, which is the latest Republican effort to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions and the health benefits provided by the Affordable Care Act:

“No matter how many times the American people shut down President Trump’s attempts to repeal their health care coverage, he just keeps coming back. You almost wish the President were this persistent when it came to other things, like defending our electoral system from foreign interference.

“Today, the Fifth Circuit will hear oral arguments in Texas v. U.S. which is the latest Republican attack on the Affordable Care Act. It’s been apparent for some time that Republicans simply do not care who they hurt, just as long as President Obama’s signature accomplishment is destroyed. Shameful doesn’t begin to describe this assault on the American people, which if successful, will eviscerate protections for 130 million people with pre-existing conditions and result in 20 million Americans losing their health coverage. In New York alone, 607,000 people stand to lose their health insurance by repealing the ACA, while over 8 million New Yorkers living with pre-existing conditions will be put at risk. How anyone could support this despicable maneuver is beyond me, but here we are.

“It should be this simple: Congress, and the President, should be working to provide high-quality, affordable health care coverage. The ACA brought health care to millions of Americans who couldn’t afford it before. It also outlawed discriminatory practices used by insurance companies. Instead of repealing these protections, we should be building on the ACA’s progress and continuing our march toward Medicare For All.

“Since taking control of the House in January, the Democratic Majority has worked to strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions. We’ve also passed bills to lower the cost of prescription drugs and held the first hearings on Medicare For All. This is the progressive vision of health care I have long championed and will continue to fight for as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“I remain hopeful that this is the President’s last attempt to steal health care away from millions of hardworking Americans.”

Engel Leads Effort to Prevent Funding Cuts to Safety-Net Hospital

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, today co-led a bipartisan effort to preserve Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments for safety-net hospitals by eliminating painful cuts scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2019.

Medicaid DSH payments help sustain hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of low-income and uninsured patients. In doing so, these hospitals incur tremendous uncompensated costs. Medicaid DSH payments help make up for these losses and, in turn, allow these safety-net providers to keep their doors open and continue caring for the most vulnerable among us. Without Congressional action, New York’s 200 safety-net hospitals and the patients they serve stand to lose a collective $1.8 billion annually.

But today, the E&C Health Subcommittee took a big step in support of safety-net hospitals by passing an amendment that eliminates $4 billion in scheduled DSH cuts for fiscal year (FY) 2020 and $8 billion for FY2021. This bipartisan amendment builds on Congressman Engel’s effort from this past May, when he led a letter with Congressman Pete Olson (TX-22) to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy urging a swift resolution to this issue. 300 Members of the House signed the letter.

“Safety-net hospitals such as Montefiore Health Systems and Saint Joseph’s Medical Center are the cornerstone of New York’s health care system,” Engel said. “We must preserve the Medicaid DSH payments, which are the lifeline for these facilities. Today’s markup was an important first-step, and I was proud to help lead in the elimination of these draconian cuts. But we must continue the pressure until it is signed into law.”      

“We applaud Rep. Engel’s long standing leadership to protect our hospitals and the vulnerable patients they serve,” said HANYS President Bea Grause, RN, JD. “Today’s vote at the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health brings us one step closer to addressing steep reductions to critical Medicaid DSH resources that help preserve access to care for all New Yorkers.  We thank Congressman Engel for his efforts today and look forward to working closely with him as he ushers this legislation through Congress.”

“This hugely important bill protects struggling safety net hospitals from deep, unsustainable funding cuts that would severely compromise patient care,” said Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth E. Raske. “The hospital community is deeply grateful to Rep. Engel for his strong leadership on this crucial issue.”

"America’s Essential Hospitals appreciates the amendment from Reps. Kennedy, Hudson, Engel, and Long to mitigate the looming Medicaid DSH cuts. We applaud Rep. Engel’s steadfast leadership in protecting Medicaid DSH funding to ensure essential hospitals have the resources they need to carry out their mission to serve the nation’s most vulnerable,” said Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, President and CEO, America’s Essential Hospitals.

“The members of the American Nurses Association - New York (ANA-NY) thank Rep. Engel for his work in today’s vote at the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to deal with the proposed Medicaid DSH reductions,” says Jeanine Santelli, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, and Executive Director of ANA-NY.  “ANA-NY’s members know that our patients need and deserve access to high quality health care, and the cuts that had been proposed would have a significant impact on the ability of the system to support the care our patients receive.  We applaud Rep. Engel for his efforts and look forward to this proposal getting finalized.”

"We greatly appreciate Congressman Engel's initiative in preserving critical funding for safety net hospitals.  The care these hospitals provide is absolutely essential to the health of millions of New Yorkers and is a critical healthcare underpinning for under-served communities.  To sustain this funding is to sustain lives—just ask the nurses,” said Carl Ginsburg, spokesperson, New York State Nurses Association.

“DSH funding is very important to the hospital where I work because of our location in an area that is impoverished,” says 1199SEIU member Paulette Forbes. “If the pending funding cuts go through, we may not be able to survive as a hospital.  We are grateful to Congressman Eliot Engel for advancing this proposal to repeal the cuts.” 

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

The Medicare for All Act

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a founding member of the House Medicare for All Caucus, joined more than 100 colleagues today to reintroduce H.R. 1384, The Medicare for All Act, legislation that would provide comprehensive health care to every person in America. Engel has cosponsored every version of this bill since 2004.

Medicare for All would create a universal health care program that enrolls every American at birth. It expands the wildly popular Medicare program, while also adding dental, vision, prescription drugs, women’s reproductive health services, maternity and newborn care, long term services and supports and more. The bill would simplify the health care system, cut administrative costs, improve payment systems to hospitals, and lower the cost of prescription drugs.

“It’s time. In fact, it’s long past time that we finally provided truly universal, comprehensive medical coverage to every American,” Rep. Engel said. “Health care is a human right, not a privilege reserved for a wealthy few. We are the only developed country in the world that still does not guarantee health care to its citizens. We also happen to be the wealthiest. Medicare for All is a moral imperative that must finally be met.

“The legislation we have reintroduced today will lower costs, including on prescription drugs, and ensure everyone gets the care they deserve. I have supported this bill for years, and was proud to help found the Medicare for All Caucus last year. Now, it’s time to take that next big step for the American people. I am hopeful the Medicare for All Act will be considered in the House soon, and I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to step up and join our call to provide health care to every American.”

Engel Statement on House Passage of H.R. 8 the Bipartisan Background Checks Act

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019:

“Today’s passage of H.R. 8 marks a significant shift in how the House does business under new Democratic leadership. After years of obstinance and inaction from Republican leaders, our legislative body has finally passed a major piece of meaningful gun violence prevention legislation to help curtail our nation’s gun violence epidemic. And it is just the start for us.

“It’s nice to be able to move the ball forward on gun safety without having to take over the House floor in protest, as we were forced to do 3 years ago while in the minority. H.R. 8 is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that will require a background check for every gun sale or transfer, with only very explicit exceptions. It’s supported by a wide range of gun safety and law enforcement groups, and has long been championed by the medical and educational communities. More than 90 percent of the American people support background checks, in addition to 90 percent of gun owning households. The only people who don’t want this are the right wing extremists in the NRA, who held a stranglehold on the House by way of their surrogates in the GOP leadership. But Congress doesn’t work for the NRA. We work for the American people, and today House Democrats have made that clear.

“Gun violence has torn our nation apart for far too long. The price American families have paid for Congress’ inaction is immeasurable. We have a moral obligation to act, and H.R. 8 is exactly the type of legislation we needed. I hope we can soon follow suit by passing a new assault weapons ban.”

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

  Engel Elected Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs

  Today, Congressman Eliot L. Engel was unanimously elected the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. With his ascension to the chairmanship, Engel now becomes the top Democratic voice on foreign affairs matters in the House of Representatives. He released the following statement:

“I’m honored that my colleagues have unanimously elected me chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress has an important role to play in foreign policy, and I’m committed to making sure we live up to those responsibilities.

“Diplomacy and development are critical to our national security. These efforts help advance our interests, strengthen friendships and alliances, and stop conflicts before they start. We must do all we can to support the public servants carrying out this work, including making an annual State Department authorization a central part of the Committee’s activity.

“As Chairman, I’ll ensure the Committee places a renewed emphasis on America’s overseas alliances—particularly NATO. We’ll work to underscore the importance of American values—human rights, democracy, and the rule of law—as pillars of our foreign policy. And, we will bring a new focus to issues including climate change and the root causes of migration.

“It’s also well past due for the House to grapple with questions of how, when, and where American armed forces are engaged around the world. Successive administrations have acted as though they have a blank check to send our service members into harm’s way, when in fact that is a matter for Congress to decide.

“Thorough and fair oversight is also an essential part of Congress’s role as a coequal branch of government. In the days ahead, the Committee will push the Administration for answers about the way it has crafted policy dealing with some of the world’s most important hotspots, from Saudi Arabia and Yemen, to Venezuela, to Syria, to Russia, to North Korea. I’m confident the Committee can do this work in a way that puts politics to the side and gets to the facts about matters pivotal to our security.

“In the years I served as the Committee’s ranking member, I was proud of the bipartisan record of accomplishment we built. I’m hopeful we can continue on this course, and I look forward to working with Ranking Member McCaul and all our members to advance our country’s interests and values.”

Dems Introduce H.R. 1 Featuring Key Voting Reform Concepts From Rep. Engel’s Proposed Constitutional Amendment

  Today, Congressman Eliot L. Engel cosponsored H.R. 1, the For the People Act, Democrats’ first legislative priority for the 116^th Congress. The For the People Act is a broad anti-corruption and democracy reform package that will expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules at all levels of the government. The bill includes several key concepts from Rep. Engel’s comprehensive Constitutional Amendment to reform our voting and electoral system, which he also reintroduced yesterday (H.J.Res. 9).

“For far too long, our political system has not reflected the needs of all Americans,” Engel said. “We’ve seen gerrymandered districts drawn to favor partisan elected officials, increasing voter suppression, and an unprecedented flood of money from special interests. With Democrats now in the majority in the House, we are committed to restoring transparency, ethics, and accountability to Washington.

“I believe that our democracy can only function when all Americans have a seat at the table. That’s why yesterday, I reintroduced a comprehensive Constitutional Amendment to fix our country’s broken electoral system. I’m pleased that the ‘For the People Act’ includes many concepts from my Constitutional Amendment, including instituting automatic voter registration, making Election Day a federal holiday, prohibiting voter ID requirements, and ensuring that failure to vote is not grounds for removing registered voters. It also bans partisan gerrymandering and reaffirms that Congress should have the authority to regulate money in politics, pushing back on Citizens United.

“Protecting the integrity of our electoral system from special interests and interference is critical and I am pleased the Democratic Caucus has made it an early priority.”

H.R. 1 also strengthens the ethics laws and expands oversight, ensuring integrity from all levels of government. In addition, the bill would extend the current conflict of interest laws to include the President and Vice President, requiring the release of their tax returns, while closing the revolving-door loophole for members of Congress.

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

ENGEL STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S UN SPEECH

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding President Trump’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly:

“America's standing in the world has plummeted so far in the last 20 months, and President Trump's blustery and bullying speech will serve only to isolate us further. As usual, the President exaggerated his accomplishments, literally drawing laughter from world leaders gathered at the UN General Assembly; offered kind words for strongmen and dictators while insulting our allies and international institutions; and, despite making ‘sovereignty’ a key theme of his speech, was silent about the greatest current threat to American sovereignty: Russia's ongoing attack on our democracy. Mr. Trump has repeated these refrains ad nauseum, but it remains deeply unsettling to see an American president stand before the United Nations—a body in which American leadership has changed the course of the world for decades—and espouse a worldview that undermines so much of what we helped build on the global stage.

“With respect to the President's threats to cut off foreign assistance, I want to remind him and Secretary Pompeo that under the Constitution, Congress determines how much we spend on foreign policy and we will continue to assert our prerogatives. But sadly, that's just a small part of the damage this Administration is doing to our leadership, values, and security. Until this Administration drastically changes course, America's standing will continue to diminish and the threats to our security will continue to grow.”

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Statement on Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands One Year After Hurricane Maria

  “One year ago, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, leaving nearly three thousand dead. Today, our fellow citizens on the islands are still reeling from the storm and its aftermath, struggling to recover due in no small part to the ineptitude of this Administration.

“Rather than focus on the recovery effort, the President spent most of the past year ignoring the plight of his Caribbean constituents, then called into question the official government death count after it exposed just how inadequate his team was in responding. His remarks were disgraceful and deserve our condemnation, which my colleagues and I offered to him directly in writing. The President’s callous words also called for a legislative response, in the form of Rep. Nydia Velazquez’s COUNT Victims Act, a bill I cosponsor, which will ensure no future disaster is left with uncertainty regarding the toll it took.

“Moving forward, we must also keep in mind the role climate change will play in future storms. Our planet is getting hotter, and more heat means more energy powering massive storm systems. One of the smartest, most effective ways we could help Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is to take real, bold steps to combat climate change, something the GOP has refused to do for years. In addition, it is critical that we hold FEMA accountable when dealing with natural disasters, another responsibility Republicans seem to have abdicated.

“We’ve learned many lessons over the past year, not the least of which is what happens when those in power fail to act on behalf of our fellow citizens. The Republican run federal government failed the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their failure must never be allowed to happen again.”

Engel Cosponsors Resolution to Overturn Trump’s Expansion of Junk Health Insurance Plans

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel has cosponsored a Congressional Review Act resolution, H.J. Res. 140, to overturn the Trump Administration’s expansion of junk health insurance plans that would allow insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

The resolution, authored by Congresswoman Kathy Castor, would nullify a Trump Administration rule permitting the expansion of skimpy health plans. Such plans are not required to offer the consumer protections provided under the Affordable Care Act, such as those for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

“I refuse to stand idly by while the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress lay waste to vital consumer protections,”Engel said. “We cannot go back to a time when Americans could be forced to pay more for health care – or be denied it altogether – because they live with a condition like asthma or diabetes. Nor can we return to the days when plans were free to exclude needed benefits, like maternity care. I am proud to join Congresswoman Castor in her effort to protect consumers from this dangerous Republican effort to turn back the clock on American families.”

Engel Statement on Trump Admin. Decision to Pull Funding From Cancer Research to Pay for Jailing of Immigrant Children

    Congressman Eliot L. Engel issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to pull $260 million in funding from cancer research and other health programs to pay for the rising cost of detaining immigrant children:

“The revelation that the Trump Administration is moving vital funding away from worthwhile, potentially life-saving programming in order to pay for the President’s crusade against immigrants should give us all pause. This is just another despicable decision from an Administration that specializes in them. They’ve already redirected funding from FEMA to ICE and now they’re going one step further. The idea of taking money from cancer research and HIV/AIDS prevention in order to pay for the jailing of children is so grotesque, it runs completely counter to our values as a nation. Every GOP member in the House and Senate should be made to answer for this horror show.”  

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

Engel Slams GOP Attempt to Destroy Protections for People with Pre-Existing Conditions

  As oral arguments begin in a federal District Court in Texas in the Republicans’ Texas v. United States lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions, Congressman Eliot L. Engel blasted Republicans’ assaults on people with pre-existing conditions in the Congress and the courts. 

The Republican lawsuit jeopardizes the health care of 130 million Americans, including 68 million women and girls, nationwide. In New York alone, the health care of 8,398,900 people, including 4,174,000 women and girls, could be dismantled if the lawsuit succeeds.

“First, Republicans voted to take away protections for pre-existing conditions; now they’re suing to destroy these protections in the courts,” Engel pointed out.

“Last year, New York families rose up to defeat the House Republican plan to end protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions like asthma, diabetes, cancer, mental illness or substance abuse and push tens of millions more off their affordable, quality coverage,” Engel said.  “But Republicans have chosen to ignore the will of the people once again, and are now pushing a lawsuit that would spell the end of basic protections that prevent insurers from denying coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions or charging them more.  It is absolutely appalling that Republicans are working to make sure that innocent people, including babies and little children, could be deprived of affordable coverage for their entire lives.

“Americans’ health care will never be safe as long as Republicans control Washington. I am proud to stand with New York families to fight the vicious GOP attacks on families’ quality, affordable coverage, and to ensure that all have access to the health care that they need.”

Engel Questions Twitter CEO Dorsey Over Foreign Interference in Elections at Committee Hearing

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, questioned Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey at a committee hearing today over the steps he and his company are taking to protect our democratic institutions from foreign interference.

House Republicans held the hearing as a political stunt to claim unfounded bias against Conservative voices on Twitter. But Engel used the opportunity to discuss real issues pressing the American public, specifically foreign meddling in U.S. elections.

 Engel focused his questions to Dorsey on Twitter’s recent efforts to take down a number of Russian and Iranian linked accounts, in addition to what the company was doing to prevent interference by foreign adversaries using bots or other fake accounts on the popular social media platform.

“Our country is facing a direct threat to our Democratic institutions,” Engel said. “We need to find ways to stop foreign adversaries like Russia and Iran from using American technology against us.”

“Can you commit to us,” Engel asked, “with any level of certainty the 2018 midterm elections in the United States will not be subject to interference by foreign adversaries using bots or other fake accounts on your platform?”

“We are committing to making our number one priority to help protect the integrity of the 2018 midterms, and especially the conversation around it,” Dorsey replied.

Video of the exchange can be found here. The full transcript of Congressman Engel’s exchange with Mr. Dorsey can be found below:

Congressman Engel: Thank you Mr. Chairman and Mr. Dorsey welcome. Our country is facing a direct threat to our democratic institutions, and we need to find ways to stop foreign adversaries, like Russia and Iran, from using American technology against us. Earlier this year Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed and indictment against the Russian Internet Research Agency, charging they created fake social media accounts, sometimes using American stolen identities, to sow discord and interfere with our 2016 election. I have a copy of that indictment with me here, and Mr. Chairman I would like to introduce it to the record.

Chairman Walden: Without objection.

Congressman Engel: Mr. Dorsey, Twitter recently took down a number of Russian and Iranian-linked accounts after they were tipped off by a cyber security firm. I am glad to see Twitter is taking action to protect us, but do you think we should be concerned that an outside cyber security firm detected fraudulent activity before you did?

Mr. Dorsey: I think it is really important that we have outsiders, and we have an open channel to them because they are always going to approach the data and work in a way that we may not see. We are going to do our best to capture everything we can, and be as proactive as we can, but we want to leave room for others to bring a different perspective that might look at what is happening on the platform than we do.

Congressman Engel: So how confident are you that Twitter can identify and remove all of the fake, and automated accounts linked to a foreign adversary on your platform?

Mr. Dorsey: We are getting more and more confident. I do want to state that this is not something has an end point, that reaches perfection. We are always going to stay ten steps ahead of the newest ways of attacking and newer vectors. We are getting more agile and better at identifying those, and that is showing in some of our results, which I talked about earlier. In terms of being able to identify 8 to 10 million suspicious accounts every single week, and then challenging them to see if they are humans or bots, or some sort of malicious automation.

Congressman Engel: I understand that Twitter is now requiring some suspicious accounts to respond to reCaptcha, to prove they are human accounts, and not bots. I was surprised to learn that you are not requiring users to do the same thing when they first sign up for Twitter. New accounts are authenticated using only an email address. Can you tell me why that is?

Mr. Dorsey: We actually do send accounts through a variety of authentication including sometimes reCaptcha. It really depends on the context and the information we have. We have thwarted over half a million accounts from even logging in in the first place because of that.

Congressman Engel: I understand that dealing with foreign adversaries can be difficult. Twitter may respond to one practice, only to find new tactics are being used to sow discord. Can you commit to us with any level of certainty the 2018 midterm elections in the United States will not be subject to interference by foreign adversaries using bots or other fake accounts on your platform?

Mr. Dorsey: We are committing to making our number one priority to help protect the integrity of the 2018 midterms, and especially the conversation around it.

Congressman Engel: Let me ask you this finally, are you aware of foreign adversaries using any different tactics on your platform to interfere with our 2018 midterm elections?

Mr. Dorsey: None that we have not communicated to the Senate Intelligence Committee, and any that we do find, we will be communicating and sharing with them.

Congressman Engel: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.