Statement from State Senator Gustavo Rivera On Congressmember Tom Price's Senate Confirmation Hearing For Secretary of Health and Human Services

As the Senate begins Congressmember Tom Price's confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services, I urge all Senators to carefully weigh the serious consequences his appointment could have on the health of millions of Americans. His nomination could represent a fatal blow to the Affordable Care Act, which in its four years of existence, has proven successful at providing health coverage to almost twenty million Americans. As a Congressmember, Price has been the most vocal proponent of repealing the Affordable Care Act by authoring the Empowering Patients First Act. His proposal would drastically deteriorate access to quality health care for those who need it the most - the sick, old, and poor. 

Congressmember Price's past policy positions and public comments make his appointment particularly worrisome to vulnerable populations of Americans. His appointment will likely further curtail access to healthcare for poor and older Americans by privatizing Medicare and rolling back Medicaid by transitioning its funding to state-block grants. He also holds extreme and dangerous positions on LGBTQ rights and women's health and reproductive health rights. He has voted repeatedly to defund Planned Parenthood and has co-sponsored offensive anti-choice legislation. 

As the Ranking Member in the Senate’s Health Committee, I believe it is imperative, if not life saving, that we fight to protect and expand health care coverage for countless Americans who depend on it. This administration has the obligation to serve every American responsibly and adequately and we must hold it accountable every step of the way. Appointing Congressmember Tom Price as the Secretary of Health and Human Services is simply not in the best interest of our health care system or the Americans who depend on it.