Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) issued this statement after the Senate Republicans finally released their version of Trumpcare, which would devastate our healthcare system, hurting the most vulnerable Americans the hardest:

“The Senate Republicans Trumpcare bill, concocted in secret with no public input, makes clear to the American people that Congressional Republicans aren’t serious about improving our healthcare system. This partisan legislation was clearly not written to improve healthcare for the American people – how else could they explain their mean-spirited proposal to rip healthcare away from millions while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest?

“This bill is not an improvement on the House Republicans’ terrible bill – it’s the same wolf in a different sheep’s clothing. Let’s not forget that under the House bill, 23 million Americans would lose coverage. The Senate Republican plan puts a heavier cost burden on low-income Americans to pay more for their care by cutting subsidies and gutting Medicaid.

“For people living with pre-existing conditions, or with diseases that have exorbitant treatment costs, or with maternity and newborn care needs, or mental health illnesses, the Senate Republicans open it up for states to turn back the clock and legalize discrimination against them. 

“As South Florida struggles to respond to the growing opioid addiction crisis, Senate Republicans show only callous indifference by including a one-time only payment for opioid services, rather than tens of billions of dollars over a decade that will make the serious investment in treatment that this horrific epidemic requires. 

“And Senate Republicans continue their attack on women’s healthcare by defunding Planned Parenthood, blocking access to cancer screenings and maternity care for low-income women, and making it more difficult for women receiving federal subsidies to access abortion services.

“The clock is finally ticking for the American people to review this bill before the Senate rushes it to a vote in only one week. Republicans chose to hide this bill during the drafting process. Now, as we learn the details, Senate Republicans will hear loud and clear from the American people that this cruel bill will make it harder for them to stay healthy without going broke.”

Congressman Deutch voted against the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628), a bill that would rip away health coverage from tens of millions of Americans, dramatically increase premiums, and severely cut Medicare and Medicaid.