I believe high quality, affordable health care should be available to Americans of every income level. It is important to enact reforms that lower the cost of health care for all Americans and ensure we are able to maintain access to health care for America’s most vulnerable populations. 

Congress must provide robust support for our social safety-net programs, like Medicare and Medicaid so they can continue to ensure access to health care for all Americans. While we must reform Medicare to ensure the program remains solvent for generations to come, I do not support any changes to benefits for current beneficiaries and those nearing retirement. 

Every American, including myself, knows someone who has been diagnosed and treated for a disease or has lost a loved one as a result of a disease. In the United States, non-communicable diseases are responsible for more than two million deaths each year. It is important for us to invest in medical research that will revolutionize our health care industry to better treat, and ultimately discover cures for these diseases. That’s why Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act which makes it possible for American scientists and researchers to find better, more effective treatments and, ultimately, cures for the devastating illnesses that affect our family members, friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans.

As you may know, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare, was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. Since implementation of the law, both Republicans and Democrats have expressed concerns regarding its effectiveness in strengthening our nation’s failing health care system. For years, I have heard firsthand accounts from my constituents about Obamacare’s negative impacts on their health care. Obamacare has demonstrated that possession of an insurance card does not equate to health care services and medical treatment. The failed law restricts health care professionals’ ability to provide care, increases premiums for families and individuals, eliminates patient choice, and severely reduces access to health care within California’s Central Valley. 

There is no doubt we have a health care crisis on our hands, however, I am confident we can fix our health care problems by weeding out waste, fraud, and abuse to bring down costs while still offering affordable health care. It is my priority to ensure your health care remains in the hands of you and your doctor, not the government.