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Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women's Health Act I've introduced the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women's Health Act with Senator Patty Murray in honor of women's health advocate and native of our district, Jeannette Acosta. Acosta lost her battle with cervical cancer when she was just 32-years old, but spent her career fighting hard to ensure women's health services are accessible to all socioeconomic backgrounds. This bill would expand access to preventive, lifesaving women's health screenings through new grant and pilot programs at community care centers, especially in low-income neighborhoods. Medicare for All While the Affordable Care Act was an excellent step forward, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed our healthcare system’s fundamental flaw: too many Americans have their health insurance tied to their job. That volatility - in or out of a public health crisis - is unacceptable. That’s why I’m a cosponsor of the Medicare for All Act because I believe healthcare is a right not a privilege. Lower Drug Costs The cost of life-saving prescription drugs is out of control nationwide as pharmaceutical companies continue to prioritize profits over patients. That's why I'm an original cosponsor of the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which would allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate maximum drug prices with these companies. Paid Leave and Child Care I'm an original cosponsor of the FAMILY Act to create the Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration and provide every individual with a family and medical leave insurance benefit. I cosponsored the Childcare for Working Families Act and the Child Care is Essential Act, because we need to supply robust childcare access, especially to families of color. These bills would invest childcare funds into low and moderate-income communities, increase care access for children with disabilities, and ensure our childcare industry can survive the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of childcare, working families need a national paid leave infrastructure. Too many Americans are forced to choose between their health and family or their job. At a time when we’re celebrating essential workers, this is a necessary way to thank them. That’s why I introduced the State Paid Leave for America Now (PLAN) Act, which reimburses states with paid leave programs for costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and incentivizes other states to adopt these models. Medicare and Medicaid It’s critical that we address the inequity of our healthcare system immediately. Communities of color and low-income communities often lack the care that higher-income communities do and suffer disproportionate effects from crises like COVID-19. I introduced H.R. 6584 during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase Medicaid payments to hospitals that primarily serve low-income communities, including four in our district. I also introduced H.R. 3039, a bill that would extend funding for state health insurance programs that conduct outreach and enrollment to low-income and older Americans. Additional Supported Legislation Disability Integration Act of 2019 Healthy Families Act of 2021 Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2021 Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 Health Care Affordability Act of 2021 |
