Healthcare
It is unacceptable that the United States of America is the only developed country in the world that does not have a universal healthcare system for its citizens. New York City residents and all Americans deserve a reliable and affordable healthcare system.
Over 30 million Americans are uninsured with the other 40 million stuck with high co-pays and deductibles, which is why Congresswoman Velázquez is a huge supporter and co-sponsor of Medicare-for-all. Medicare-for-all will ensure that every American has access to quality healthcare and prescription drugs without having to choose between their health and livelihood.
Congresswoman Velázquez has voted against every attempt by the Republican party to repeal the Affordable Care Act and that law’s protections for patients with preexisting conditions. In fact, one of the first acts of the new Democratic Majority was to authorize the U.S. House of Representatives to defend the Affordable Care Act in court against efforts to dismantle it.
The GOP’s attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act would take away healthcare from over 24 million Americans and over 2.3 million New Yorkers. Congresswoman Velázquez is committed to working with her colleagues to ensure American voices are heard and our vital medical needs are safeguarded. Americans should have the right to live a healthy life that is not jeopardized by politics or partisanship.
Ultimately, Congresswoman Velázquez knows that that healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege for the wealthy. She will continue efforts in Congress to secure access to insurance coverage and affordable, quality care for all Americans.
More on Healthcare
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) announced the allocation of federal grant funding towards a series of healthcare organizations within New York’s seventh district providing comprehensive care to working families. This funding comes as a result of the passage of the American Rescue Plan.
Washington, D.C—Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has reintroduced the “Puerto Rico Health Care Fairness, Accountability, and Beneficiary Access Act,” legislation that would put Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program on a path to parity with Medicaid programs in U.S. states.
Washington, DC – As the nation’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic enters a new stage with the rollout of vaccines, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has introduced new legislation to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation around the vaccine, especially in communities of color.
Washington, DC – To open the first legislative week of the 117th Congress, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has unveiled the COVID-19 Prevention and Awareness Act (CPAA), a bill that would allocate $2.12 billion in funding for grants to help community health centers prevent and address the pandemic for New Yorkers who have underlying health conditions, and are therefore more susceptible to the coronavirus.
Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has introduced legislation that would increase public awareness on the importance of reproductive cancer screening. The bill H.R. 8442, entitled the Ovarian and Cervical Cancer Awareness Act of 2020 intends to address two of the deadliest reproductive cancers women face and prioritize underserved women in our national gynecological health public awareness campaign.
Washington, DC - Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) introduced H.R. 7006, new legislation that would enable Home Health Care Agencies to attend to their patients, rather than paperwork during the coronavirus pandemic. In order to commence care with new patients and be reimbursed by Medicare, home health agencies generally need a written referral from a doctor. Home health agencies have encountered numerous difficulties obtaining referrals from physicians, as many of physicians’ offices are closed due to COVID-19.
Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) is pressing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for an explanation on how the agency has distributed donated doses of “remdesivir”, a drug that has shown promise in shortening recovery time for patients suffering from COVID-19. In a letter to the Secretary of HHS and the agency’s Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Velázquez asks for a better explanation as to how the agency is prioritizing the medicine’s distribution.
“Hotspot” Funding Targeted to Woodhull, Wyckoff Heights Facilities
Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement regarding reports that the Puerto Rico government was denying journalists access to government coronavirus briefings: “A free, independent press is the hallmark of any democracy and actions by the Puerto Rican government to prevent journalists from covering its response to COVID-19 are shameful. During crises, such as a pandemic, it is more important, not less, that the public be fully informed and that the media be able to report unadulterated facts, while holding the government accountable for its actions.
Washington, DC – Members of the New York City Congressional delegation today wrote Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza, calling for swift remediation of problems in small business aid programs recently enacted as part of the “CARES Act.”
