Health Care
In his effort to enact health care reform in 1912, President Theodore Roosevelt described the importance of health care best when he said, “No country can be strong if its people are sick and poor.” These sentiments ring as true today as they did then. Health care is an essential right, and a healthy America is a more productive, safer and better place to call home.
I was proud that one of my earliest votes in Congress was for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because it ensures that millions of Americans have access to affordable, quality health care. In light of the House vote in favor of the American Health Care Act, I will continue to fight—through the appropriations process and otherwise—to protect Americans with preexisting conditions and ensuring quality, affordable care for all. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have fought to fund some of the Fifth District’s most important health programs like Planned Parenthood, community health centers and HIV prevention. I’ve worked to advance critical research and development and fully fund the National Institutes for Health (NIH), which supports groundbreaking developments in cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and countless other conditions.
Unfortunately, Republicans in the White House and in Congress put politics over people by pursuing a bill that will cause tens of millions of Americans to lose coverage. Quality, affordable care is a right for all, including for our seniors and those with pre-existing conditions who will now be forced to pay considerably higher out-of-pocket costs under this bill. The American people have made their voices clear in strong opposition to this dangerous legislation. They want us to improve and strengthen Affordable Care Act, not destroy it.
To combat partisan efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Quigley spearheaded efforts by Illinois health care advocates to raise awareness about the Open Enrollment period.
Rep. Quigley spoke on the House Floor and urged his colleagues to vote against the Affordable Care Act repeal and maintain critical coverage for millions of Americans.
Rep. Quigley has held events throughout the Fifth District to discuss the Affordable Care Act with constituents, health care professionals, and advocates.
The opioid epidemic touches us all in some way. Rep. Quigley has met with patients, doctors, advocates, and experts to determine what are the best approaches to addressing this crisis.
More on Health Care
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), joined five House and Senate Democrats in releasing a disturbing new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that found only 43 percent of school districts nationwide tested for lead in their schools’ drinking water in 2016 and 2017, and of those that tested, 37 percent found elevated lead levels. GAO found that 41 percent of school districts did not test for lead, while 16 percent did not know.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statements after the House passed the FY18 omnibus spending bill, which includes funding for several of his legislative priorities and issues he has championed since arriving to Congress.