[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1845
ELIMINATING MEDICAL DEBT
(Mr. KHANNA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. KHANNA. Mr. Speaker, today, Senator Bernie Sanders and I
introduced a historic bill to eliminate medical debt for every
American.
Over 100 million Americans have medical debt. That is criminal in a
country as wealthy as ours. No American should go into debt because
they go to the ER or because they go to a doctor.
Our bill eliminates all medical debt for families. It eliminates the
credit card damaging reports on medical debt, and it stops hospitals
from sticking debt collectors on vulnerable patients.
Can we not agree in America that no one should have to give up their
dream of owning a home because they have medical debt? No one should
have to create GoFundMe pages to get medical attention. No one should
have to decide between curing their cancer and medical bankruptcy.
This bill stands up for every American's right to healthcare. I thank
Senator Merkley and Representative Rashida Tlaib for co-leading this
effort.
____________________