Washington, D.C. – Today, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement at the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing titled, “Setting Fiscal Priorities in Health Care Funding”:

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

“Today’s hearing is yet another example of the Majority’s strong commitment to improving the Affordable Care Act. 

“Rather than bringing substantive suggestions as to how we can work today to improve our health system, the Majority comes to the table once again with a sledgehammer and a long list of myths about what health reform will do.

“The Majority continues to warn about the dangers and deficiencies in the health reform.  It is their misguided belief that the health reform law will destroy State budgets, kill jobs, drive up health care costs, and overwhelm Medicare and Medicaid.

“And while my colleagues seem to take great joy in extolling the problems with the health reform law, they have yet to bring a single, substantive suggestion for improvement.  You can see clearly from the five discussion drafts before us today that the Majority has no intention of working with the Minority to improve the health reform law. 

“The process of drafting good legislation is a difficult one, but as Members of Congress it is our responsibility to draft legislation that will improve the lives of our constituents and communities.   A straight repeal of the funding for these public health programs is not in the interest of American families, it is not in the interest of public health, and it is not in the interest of State budgets. 

“I have long said that no law is perfect, and I strongly believe that as you draft legislation you cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good.  I hope to work with my colleagues to improve this bill and not blindly tear it down.  I hope that the next hearing before this Subcommittee will deal with the substance and not the politics.”

Congressman Dingell has for years been a leading advocate for health care reform and public health programs.  He continues vigorous oversight in the 112th Congress to see that the implementation of and funding for the Affordable Care Act law, of which he is the author, are done in a fully fair manner that benefits all Americans.

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