Transcripts For CSPAN Weekly Address 20170617 : vimarsana.co

Appreciations to special agents david bailey, crystal griner and henry cabrera, members of the dignitary protection corps, for their brave and sacrificial actions which contained and eliminated a clear and present danger to only god knows how many dedicated public servants. Having spent several years under their watchful protection, i know firsthand of their hard work and dedication. I wish for them speedy recoveries as well. Im keeping them and their families in my prayers. No issue is more important to the people of america than their health, and the health of their families. And in my opinion, no issues are more important to the health care of americans than accessibility and affordability. The aca repeal legislation recently passed by House Republicans without a single democratic vote would have devastating effects on families all across the country. President trump pushed hard and relentlessly for its passage. Recently, however, he called the bill mean. when president obama proposed the aca, he hosted a bipartisan, bicameral townhall type roundtable in the blair house. It was broadcast, in real time, by cspan, and when the bill was introduced in the house, it went to three committees that debated its pros and cons extensively. Republicans and democrats offered scores of amendments and many of them were accepted. I was serving as House Majority whip at the time, and when the bill was debated on the floor, i called it the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century. I gave it that moniker because the aca outlaws many forms of discrimination in health care. It outlaws discrimination against women who were often charged more for Health Care Coverage than men. It outlawed discrimination against people with preexisting conditions. The aca repeal bill that House Republicans passed and sent to the senate would rip away health care from 23 million americans, and raise costs and roll back protections for millions more. Now, Senate Republicans are working in secret on their own trumpcare bill. They wont tell you what it is, but they want you to believe its more moderate. Theres nothing moderate about undermining protections for people with preexisting conditions by repealing the essential Health Benefits protections. Theres nothing moderate about gutting medicaid by 834 billion and in the same bill give 900 billion in tax giveaways to a few wealthy families, and insurance and drug companies. Repealing the aca would once again institutionalize the kind of discrimination against the sick and aged that has plagued hardworking families for generations. Passing the republican bill would turn the clock back on civil rights and humaneness. It does not have to be this way. Democrats are eager to work with our republican colleagues to deliver accessible and Affordable Quality Health care to all americans, but republicans must set aside their repeal efforts. It is my fervent hope that this is the path we choose going forward. Thank you for listening and god bless. Walz looks atim congressional oversight of the Veterans Affairs department and the veterans accountability act which the house passed earlier this week. He serves as Ranking Member of the Veterans Affairs committee. See newsmakers sunday on cspan. In your code of ethics statement you write i am not an objective news reporter. Im in opinion columnist. Walt right. I am like a movie reviewer