Rep. Takano Warns GOP: AHCA Will Harm Veterans
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, took to the House floor today to warn Republicans that the American Health Care Act would jeopardize access to affordable health care for millions of veterans.
“There are 7 million veterans who are eligible for VA care but not enrolled at the VA. All of them could be denied access to the tax credits in this bill,” said Rep. Takano, before outlining the problematic provisions in the bill. “This is not fear-mongering, this is not hyperbole, this is the text of the bill we are voting on today.”
The video of the speech can be found here.
Republicans claim a Treasury rule issued in 2012 regarding the Affordable Care Act would protect veterans’ access to the tax credits in the American Health Care Act. However, the rule relies on many authorities granted by the Affordable Care Act and would have to be re-written if the AHCA were to pass.
It is unclear when or whether that rule would be issued and what options would be available to veterans while they wait for the rulemaking process to be completed. These questions could have been addressed if they AHCA had gone through the appropriate process, which would include hearings and a mark-up in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.EndFragment
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