[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MEDICAID IN NORTH CAROLINA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Ross) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the urgent need to 
implement Medicaid expansion in North Carolina. In March, our State 
became the 40th to pass legislation to expand Medicaid after over a 
decade of political gridlock.
  Nevertheless, Republicans in the general assembly are needlessly 
delaying implementation because they continue to bicker with each other 
over the State budget, jeopardizing healthcare for over 600,000 North 
Carolinians. Every day that Republicans wait to expand Medicaid is 
another day that a mother with cancer or a grandfather with diabetes 
cannot access the care they need, care that saves lives.
  More than a decade ago, I fought for Medicaid expansion in the 
general assembly. More than a decade ago, vulnerable North Carolinians 
desperate for affordable healthcare began waiting for their leaders to 
do the right thing.
  Mr. Speaker, our people have been waiting a decade too long. The 
people of our State deserve action now--not next month and not next 
year--to ensure that they can access the healthcare they desperately 
need.

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