ScienceDebate.org: on Health Care
John Yarmuth:
Increase funding for community health centers
I promote increased funding for Community Health Centers and other agencies that serve at-risk populations and secure resources for testing and contact tracing in disproportionately affected communities. I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 6585, the Equitable
Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act that mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to collect data on and report racial and ethnic demographic information related to COVID-19 testing, hospitalizations, and mortality.
Congress must commit to substantial investments in public health and prioritize research, data, and fact-based policymaking. I've worked to increase funding for Community Health Centers that serve at-risk populations and secure designated resources for
testing and contact tracing in disproportionately affected communities. I have advocated for health care reform that ensures all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 KY-2 House race
Nov 3, 2020
Richard Durbin:
Defend & expand ObamaCare and Medicaid
My vote for the Affordable Care Act was one of the most important votes of my career. We must do everything within our power to defend and expand on the ACA. We should expand Medicaid in all states, allow people the option to
purchase private or public health insurance plans that ensure access to mental health care, and provide access to adequate dental care. We must also reduce the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Theresa Greenfield:
Expand ACA, include public option
We need to do more to expand access to quality, affordable health care. I support strengthening the Affordable Care Act with a public option and investing in telehealth.
We also need to stop the attacks on Medicaid expansion, which has been a lifeline for our rural health care hospitals and providers.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Iowa Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Jason Crow:
Create Health Force to respond to COVID & future emergencies
I introduced a bill to create a "Health Force" that would respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies. This bill would enable local, county, and state public health departments to hire thousands of workers to conduct
contact tracing, administer virus testing, collect data, and provide community-based and home-based services for elderly and immunocompromised individuals. I also introduced the RASPP Act to improve America's pandemic preparedness.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 CO-6 House race
Nov 1, 2020
Anna Eshoo:
Ban direct-to-consumer TV ads for prescription drugs
Q: How do you encourage R&D of vital drugs while regulating price and safety? B. What do you think the government's role is in regulation of direct-to-consumer TV advertisements for prescription drugs?A. I helped write H.R. 3 the
Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will lower the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to directly negotiate the price of the most expensive drugs in our country, including insulin. This is about economies of scale.
Both the VA and Tricare have directly negotiated drug prices for decades and Medicare should be no different. The U.S. should ban direct-to-consumer TV advertisements for prescription drugs. Direct-to-consumer advertising creates consumer demand
for new, expensive, and sometimes inappropriate prescription drugs, which why the American Medical Association has advocated for a ban on direct-to-consumer drug ads for the past five years.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional CA-18 election
Oct 9, 2020
Brian Higgins:
Increase federal funding to advance cures for cancer
I have long advocated for increased funding to advance the science to develop cures for cancer. Congress has not consistently made federal funding for cancer research a top priority. It is a tragedy when promising research cannot commence due to lack of
funding. I am currently a Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, and one of the areas I focus through that role is highlighting advances in treatment--like immunotherapy--that have come to market due to a sustained federal investment.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional NY-26 election
Oct 9, 2020
Carolyn Maloney:
Healthcare is a human right
COVID has underlined that healthcare is a human right. As a co-sponsor on Medicare for All and a long-time proponent of protecting and strengthening the ACA, I am continuing to advocate for both those causes.
We must strengthen national reporting guidelines, and ensure that they cannot be manipulated for political aims. We must also strengthen our domestic supply chains when it comes to medical supplies.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional NY-12 election
Oct 9, 2020
Colin Allred:
Defend ACA, expand Medicaid, lower Medicare age
Everyone should have access to high quality, affordable health care, regardless of income, medical history or employment status. We must stabilize health care markets and protect the Affordable Care Act. Texas should expand Medicaid.
I also support lowering the age of Medicare and allowing people to buy into a Medicare like public option which would create competition and lower costs.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional TX-32 election
Oct 9, 2020
Eddie Bernice Johnson:
ACA is an important step in giving all access to good care
Q: Texas has the lowest rate of health insurance coverage in the nation, resulting in reduced access to care and worse health outcomes. How would you ensure that all Texans have access to high-quality healthcare?A: As a non-practicing registered
nurse, I understand how important access to quality, affordable health care is for all Americans. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions of Texans are already seeing lower health care costs and receiving better insurance coverage.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional TX-30 election
Oct 9, 2020
Joe Morelle:
Health care research will improve health crisis responses
We must increase investment in scientific research, bolster resources for the CDC, and improve our response strategy. COVID-19 could have been more contained had the White House administration acted sooner. We also need to ensure our healthcare
systems have the resources and equipment to address future crises, which is why I've worked to secure personal protective equipment for frontline workers and federal investments in our local hospitals and health centers.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional NY-25 election
Oct 9, 2020
Mike Quigley:
Defunding public health agencies devastating during COVID
Years if not decades of defunding and de-emphasizing public health agencies and experts has had a devastating impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. We've learned hard lessons over the past few months about how important it is to have the right experts
in place at the right organizations, armed with the resources they need, not to mention how necessary it is to actually listen to their advice. We must adequately fund state and national public health organizations.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 IL-5 House race
Oct 9, 2020
Mondaire Jones:
Supports universal, single-payer health care
The ideal healthcare system is a universal, single-payer system that guarantees health care to everyone as a human right. That's why I support the Medicare for All Act (H.R. 1384), which would guarantee health care without premiums, deductibles, or
co-pays, while capping the annual cost of prescription drugs at $200 per person. This is the only proposal that would ensure that everyone is covered and can see their doctor regardless of employment status or economic means.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional NY-2 election
Oct 9, 2020
Paul Tonko:
No one should go bankrupt due to a health emergency
I have long cosponsored a single-payer health care system because in 2020, no one who works for a living should be catastrophic health care event away from losing their life, their life savings or their livelihood because they can't
afford insurance or healthcare. Science should inform and lead policy decisions and be unimpeded by political influence. Again, that's why I introduced the Scientific Integrity Act.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Congressional NY-20 election
Oct 9, 2020
Steve Lynch:
Give undocumented immigrants access to no-cost COVID care
I believe our response to the pandemic should ensure access to quality and affordable care for every person and that includes immigrants. To this end, I voted in favor of the HEROES Act, Democratic pandemic relief legislation that includes several
provisions designed to address health and economic disparities in our immigrant communities. For example, the bill would afford undocumented immigrants without health care coverage eligibility for no-cost coronavirus testing, treatment, and vaccines.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 MA-8 House race
Oct 9, 2020
Page last updated: Dec 10, 2020