[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION, NOT BLOCK GRANTS

  (Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the 
issue of healthcare in Oklahoma. I hear from far too many Oklahomans 
who can't afford the healthcare they need.
  Today, Oklahoma has the second highest rate of uninsured people in 
the Nation. Our State ranks 48th for uninsured children. We cannot 
continue to let Oklahomans fall through the cracks of our healthcare 
system.
  The answer to solving our State's healthcare crisis is 
straightforward. We must expand Medicaid. By not expanding Medicaid, 
Oklahoma has lost up to $1 billion per year. Seven hospitals across our 
State have closed, in part because we did not accept the healthcare 
support our State is entitled to.
  Expanding Medicaid in Oklahoma would extend health insurance to up to 
200,000 Oklahomans who don't currently have insurance. It is the right 
choice for our State. Instead, the administration and our Governor are 
proposing an alternative plan to turn SoonerCare into a block grant 
program.

  The plan to block grant Medicaid would encourage cuts to healthcare 
services, restrict access to healthcare providers and lifesaving 
medications, and contribute to hospital closures. Too often, block 
grants have often been misused for political pet projects and to fill 
holes in the budget.
  While we are still learning the specifics of the block grant plan, 
here is what we do know: more than 500,000 children rely on SoonerCare, 
and their insurance would be threatened by the plan to cap and slash 
Medicaid. Enough is enough.

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