Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today released the following statement after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its score detailing the projected impacts of the second version of Trumpcare, which passed the House on May 4, 2017, by a vote of 217-213.

Today’s score found that under Trumpcare, 23 million fewer Americans would have health insurance over the next decade and critical federal healthcare funding to states would be cut by $834 billion.   

“If there were a book on commonsense for Congress, I am sure it would include a chapter on holding public hearings before voting on legislation,” said Larsen. “And Trumpcare would be a perfect case study: Congressional Republicans found out today, 20 days after ramming Trumpcare through the House, that they have a real turkey of a bill on their hands.”

Congressional Republicans forced a vote in May before the Congressional Budget Office could evaluate the effects of changes to the updated legislation, which would allow states to waive the essential health benefits requirement and increase rates for people with preexisting conditions, which can be anything from being a woman to having a terminal illness.

Key provisions of Trumpcare include gutting the Medicaid program, repealing the individual mandate, doing away with Affordable Care Act tax credits that low- and middle-income families rely on to afford health insurance, decimating funding for Planned Parenthood, and repealing the taxes on wealthy Americans which currently finance the Affordable Care Act. This legislation also reduces health care quality by allowing states to choose whether or not to keep the essential health benefits requirement, which would allow insurance companies to stop providing necessary services like maternity care and treatment for opioid abuse.

In Washington state, the uninsured rate dropped from 14 to 5.8 percent thanks to the Affordable Care Act, and across the country the bill helped cut the personal bankruptcy filings in half.

Since January, Larsen has held eight Affordable Care Act “Town Talks” in towns and cities across Northwest Washington – hearing from more than 1000 constituents in Mountlake Terrace, Bellingham, Marysville, Anacortes, Langley and Sedro-Woolley, and Friday Harbor.

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