Chu Opening Statement at Field Hearing in Texas

(As prepared for delivery)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today.

Thanks to Democrats in the House, Senate, and White House, more Americans have access to health care than ever before. During the 2024 Open Enrollment season, a historic 21.3 million people signed up for care through the ACA marketplaces. Millions of Medicare recipients are saving money on prescription drugs, with more to come as Medicare finally negotiates the price of common, costly prescription drugs. We want what’s best for America’s patients, and that means an affordable, accessible health care system. 

Strengthening access to emergency care is certainly a priority, but so should be access to all types of healthcare.  In many states in the country, Republicans are the biggest threat to Americans’ health and well-being, doubling down on their threats to the Affordable Care Act and working towards a national abortion ban. Their extreme, out-of-touch agenda would only create a sicker, poorer America. 

We’re already seeing the deadly consequences of Republicans’ war on women. Women are being forced to flee their homes to access care, doctors are being threatened with prison terms, and hospitals are being ordered to deny care to women with life-threatening complications.

Right here in Texas, Republicans cheered on a near-total abortion ban that has put countless lives in danger. Like Texas resident Kate Cox, who was denied a medically necessary abortion under draconian state laws and forced to cross state lines to access care. Amanda Zurawski was denied care to address life-threatening pregnancy complications until she went into septic shock. Yeniifer Alvarez-Estrada Glick died after being deprived of medical information due to doctors’ fears of prosecution. Surely, these stories prove that Republicans’ extremist, restrictive abortion bans are a barrier to accessing emergency care for countless women.

Not only have Republicans cut women off from accessing abortion care in dozens of states, but their repeated attempts to gut the Affordable Care Act and the premium tax credits that millions of Americans count on would devastate access to care. Over 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions count on the ACA’s consumer protections that prevent insurers from discriminating against them and millions of working families are only able to afford health care thanks to Democrats’ premium tax credits. Republicans’ repeal agenda, cheered on by Donald Trump, would put power back in the hands of powerful health care industry players, while leaving working families to foot the bill.

Democrats are ready to go even further toward building the health care systems that Americans deserve. In sharp contrast, Republicans are doubling down on dangerous policies that will harm patients’ health and well-being.

I urge my Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to invest in the American health care system, and abandon these attempts to limit care that will needlessly drive Americans into emergency care situations.  With that, I yield back.