Health Care
All Americans should have comprehensive, affordable, quality health care as a fundamental right. The Affordable Care Act, which I voted for in 2010, has been a major step in the right direction. It has expanded health coverage and protected patients, no matter how you get your insurance. However, we have more work to do to reduce costs, including out-of-control prescription drug costs, and to further improve the quality of care.
In Congress, I strongly oppose efforts to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act, weaken Medicaid for vulnerable Americans, or endanger Medicare for seniors today and in the future. I strongly support creating a public option in our health care system, efforts to address health disparities, and policies that will address the rise of prescription drug costs. We must also do more to ensure all Americans have access to mental and behavioral health services. To fulfill our goal of a true universal health care system, I have proposed the America’s Right to Health Care Amendment, which would enshrine a fundamental right to health care in our Constitution.
More on Health Care
Congresswoman Betty McCollum sent the following newsletter to Fourth District citizens on Friday, March 10 about House Republicans' disastrous health care bill and her work to protect health care for families in Minnesota and throughout the United States:
Dear Neighbor:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement after House Republicans announced their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act:
"It is now obvious why House Republicans waited until the last minute to reveal their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act: Their bill takes us backwards and gives more control over our health care to big drug and insurance companies.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) previewed President Donald Trump's Address to a Joint Session of Congress in a post on Medium:
At four town hall meetings last week in St. Paul, I heard a clear message from my constituents: the State of our Union is anxious.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) packed this week’s President’s Day District Work Period with four town hall meetings, listening in-person to more than 1,000 Fourth District constituents.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) today introduced an amendment to the United States Constitution to guarantee all Americans access to health care.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) will host a community conversation on the Affordable Care Act, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, led a bipartisan group of House members writing to President Donald Trump on Wednesday urging him to exempt the Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other agencies that serve the needs of Native communities from his federal hiring freeze.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 7, a bill that makes it harder for women to access comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion. It is outrageous that, in 2017, women still have to fight for our right to make basic health care decisions.
Under the Hyde and Helms Amendments, no federal dollars fund abortion. H.R. 7 would codify these unjust limitations and in fact goes much further by restricting women’s access to comprehensive health care even when no federal funding is involved.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is today considering the nomination of Representative Tom Price (R-Ga.) to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement on the Price confirmation hearings:
“The nomination of Representative Tom Price (R-GA) to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services represents a Republican assault on Americans who receive health care from Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act.
Joining millions of Americans participating in "Our First Stand" — the National Day of Action to Save Health Care — Congresswoman Betty McCollum recorded a video message explaining her strong support for the Affordable Act and strongly opposing Republican plans to repeal this life-saving law.
