Langevin: Nearly 60,000 Rhode Islanders Will Lose Coverage Under Trumpcare
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) and U.S. Congressman Jim
Langevin (D-RI) today criticized President Donald Trump and Washington Republicans
for moving forward with legislation to eliminate health care coverage for 59,400
Rhode Islanders over the next ten years.
«Trumpcare is a great deal for the wealthy, insurance companies, and drug companies.
It’s a bad deal for everyone else. Under Trumpcare, 24 million people will lose
health coverage, including almost 60,000 Rhode Islanders. This is wrong,» said
Cicilline, who serves in House Leadership as a co-chair of the Democratic Policy and
Communications Committee. «Donald Trump promised to be a champion for the middle
class. But it’s now clear that Trumpcare will devastate Rhode Island’s working
families. Hardworking Rhode Islanders deserve better than what they’re getting from
President Trump.»
«The Republican Affordable Care Act repeal plan undermines the evolution of our
nation’s health care delivery to focus on value over volume, accountable care, and
consideration of the patient experience,» said Langevin, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan
Disabilities Caucus. «Rather than work together in a bipartisan manner to strengthen
the ACA, House Republicans and President Trump are gambling with America’s health by
jeopardizing the comprehensive health coverage that 100,000 Rhode Islanders gained
under the law.»
The figures cited by Cicilline and Langevin were prepared by the non-partisan Center
for American Progress as part of a district-by-district breakdown of the 24 million
Americans who will lose coverage under Trumpcare. House Republicans are planning to
vote on passage of legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act this Thursday.
In addition to ending coverage for 24 million Americans, Trumpcare will destroy
nearly two million jobs, shorten the life of Medicare by three years, cut $880
billion from Medicaid, force middle class families to pay more for less care, and
give big corporations and the wealthiest Americans a $600 billion tax break. The
richest 400 American families alone will receive $2.8 billion in tax breaks, marking
the largest single transfer of wealth from working men and women to the wealthy in
American history.
Trumpcare is opposed by several major organizations, including the AARP, the
American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Cancer
Society Cancer Action Network, the American Public Health Association, the National
Disability Rights Network, the National Partnership for Women and Families, the
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the Catholic Health
Association of the United States, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, NEA, the Cystic Fibrosis
Association, Planned Parenthood, and the Children’s Defense Fund.