NEW: Cicilline to GOP: Focus on Jobs
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
After House Republican leaders held a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) reiterated his call for Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to create jobs for working families.
“Republican leaders have repeatedly made it clear that they want to repeal the Affordable Care Act,” said Cicilline. “Instead of wasting time with another vote to repeal health care reform, which has no chance of passing the Senate or getting the President’s signature, Republican leaders should work with their Democratic colleagues and focus on bipartisan, commonsense proposals that will help our small businesses, support our manufacturers, and get workers the training they need to compete in this economy. It’s time for my friends on the other side of the aisle to focus on the most urgent issue facing Rhode Islanders and our country – getting people back to work.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, more than 21,000 Rhode Island seniors have already saved an average of $589 on their prescriptions in the time since health care reform was enacted. In addition, an estimated 128,390 Medicare beneficiaries in Rhode Island have received access to free preventive services and more than 7,500 young adults in Rhode Island now have health insurance through their parent’s health care plans.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court confirmed that health care reform was constitutional, and in my visits to senior centers across our state, I have heard one resounding message – the time for fighting over health care reform has ended,” added Cicilline. “Instead of putting our country through yet another divisive political battle, Republicans and Democrats in Congress should work together to ensure that health care reform works effectively for all Americans.”
Earlier today, the House approved the so-called “Repeal of Obamacare Act,” H.R. 6079 – the latest in a string of Republican efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act. In the past year-and-a-half, Cicilline has urged House leaders to take up elements of the Make It In America agenda, which includes the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act, the National Manufacturing Strategy Act, and Cicilline’s Make It In America Block Grant Program Act. To date, House Republicans have yet to work in a bipartisan fashion on a comprehensive jobs plan.
