[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 119 (Monday, June 29, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H2599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           STRENGTHEN THE ACA

  (Mr. VEASEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to pass 
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act.
  Because we are in the middle of a global pandemic that has killed 
almost 130,000 Americans and is ravaging my home State of Texas and has 
left our hospitals overwhelmed right now, it is now more important that 
we do everything that we can to strengthen the ACA. This important 
legislation has already given access to millions of people that now 
have lifesaving healthcare, many who could not previously access it.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation that I am working on now pushes 
critical provisions, like lowering healthcare costs, strengthening 
protections for people with preexisting conditions, negotiating for 
lower prescription drug prices, and expanding healthcare by pressing 
for Medicaid expansion.
  Madam Speaker, let me tell you something: You don't want to get sick 
in Texas right now. You don't want to get sick in Texas right now. Our 
hospitals are overwhelmed because of the inaction of our Governor. It 
is shameful.
  Anything that we can do here to help the crisis that we have back in 
our State, which is also about to grip other States in this Nation, we 
need to act on it now.
  Time cannot wait.

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