[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud President 
Joe Biden's executive order to bring down the cost of health insurance 
and expand health coverage. The executive order represents the most 
significant action to strengthen the Affordable Care Act since it was 
signed into law.
  Consistent with the administration's mission, my colleagues and I in 
Congress voted in favor of the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which will 
lower costs for hardworking families by capping the out-of-pocket costs 
for insulin at $35 per month.
  President Biden's executive order delivers a longstanding Democratic 
priority for strengthening the Affordable Care Act and fixing the so-
called family glitch. Without this step, current regulations define 
employer-based health insurance as affordable if the coverage is 
provided solely for the employee and not for family members.
  For family members of an employee offered health coverage through an 
employer, the cost for that family coverage can sometimes be very 
expensive and make health insurance out of reach. The family glitch 
affects 5 million people and has made it impossible for many families 
to use the premium tax credit to purchase an affordable, high-quality 
marketplace plan.
  Fixing the family glitch builds on several steps Democrats have taken 
to lower health costs and build on the Affordable Care Act, including 
the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last year. The 
American Rescue Plan is saving families an average of $2,400 in annual 
premiums and has helped enroll 14.5 million Americans in marketplace 
plans.
  Thanks to Democratic leadership, healthcare is more affordable and 
accessible than ever. Our American Rescue Plan dramatically lowered the 
cost of marketplace plans and helped enroll millions of Floridians into 
quality, affordable coverage.
  As House Democrats fight to build a better America for all people, I 
will continue to work to lower healthcare costs and prescription drug 
prices for all Floridian families.

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