New Democrat Coalition Releases Health Care Task Force Goals for the 116th Congress

The New Democrat Coalition, led by Healthcare Task Force Co-Chairs Angie Craig, Kurt Schrader, Kim Schrier, and Greg Stanton, released their goals for the 116th Congress.

The Healthcare Task Force will serve as a convening force for the unique New Dem perspective on the healthcare debate. The Task Force will continue the Coalition’s work to stabilize the individual markets and expand on the ACA to work toward universal affordable health care.

Health Care Task Force Mission Statement for the 116th Congress:

Affordable health care is critical to the financial security and wellbeing of American families. We cannot allow partisan politics to jeopardize access to lifesaving treatments. The New Democrat Coalition Healthcare Task Force will develop and advance policies to improve our healthcare system, reduce costs, increase choices for consumers, modernize regulations, reduce burdens for small businesses, and expand coverage, building a path toward universal coverage.

"Hardworking people across the country are talking about the cost of healthcare every night around their kitchen tables. To me that means it’s important enough to put politics aside and find real solutions to address the cost of both health insurance, like authorizing a long-term federal reinsurance program, as well as the cost of health care. This includes providing more options for Americans near Medicare eligibility age, and reining in the pharmaceutical industry,” said Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02).

"While the Affordable Care Act was an unqualified success for millions across the country, the individual marketplace and small business groups are still seeing higher premiums and deductibles. We need to address that problem so every American has access to affordable health care. Our New Democrat Health Care Task Force has a history of improving care with proposals that already have bipartisan support. We need to stabilize the marketplace now," said Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05).

“I’m proud to be serving as co-chair of the New Dems Health Care Task Force. As a doctor, I know first-hand that families are hurting as they try to pay for the high costs of health care and prescription drugs. We’re ready to get to work and there are bipartisan proposals from last Congress that we can use as a starting point. We can bring down out of pocket costs and expand tax credits to help people afford premiums. Access to health care and life-saving treatments should not be partisan and should not be delayed in the pursuit of more comprehensive systematic overhauls. This is a strong first step,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08).

“One of our highest priorities must be to improve access and reduce the costs of health care, insurance, medications and treatment for American families,” said Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-09). “My colleagues on the Healthcare Task Force and I are committed to working in a bipartisan way to create commonsense policy solutions for some of the biggest challenges facing our communities.”

Health Care Task Force for the 116th Congress:

• Co-Chairs: Reps. Angie Craig, Kurt Schrader, Kim Schrier, and Greg Stanton
• Members: Reps. Cindy Axne, Ami Bera, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sean Casten, Jim Cooper, Sharice Davids, Lizzie Fletcher, Chrissy Houlahan, Ron Kind, Annie Kuster, Susie Lee, Ben McAdams, Lucy McBath, Debbie Murcasel Powell, Dean Phillips, Terri Sewell, Elissa Slotkin, Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer Wexton

The first action of the Health Care Task Force is to encourage the Committees of jurisdiction to prioritize strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and continue the path toward universal affordable coverage.

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