Health Care

Every American should have access to quality, affordable health care. Unfortunately, not everyone has it. Today, more than 45 million Americans live without healthcare coverage. And even some people who have insurance struggle with the soaring costs of prescription drugs. The healthcare crisis only worsens when you consider that emergency departments are closing in communities across our nation, leaving residents without adequate emergency care.

As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, I will continue to work to help you and your families with your health needs.

Here are some of the things I have done:

• Introduced the Access to Emergency Medical Services Act to keep ERs open;

• Introduced the Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act to provide better screening of cervical cancer;

• Co-sponsored the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act to allow reimportation of cheaper drugs from other countries;

• Voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act to give the Department of Health and Human Services the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries;

• Introduced the Garret Lee Smith Memorial Act to help prevent teen suicides. The bill became law in 2004;

• Introduced legislation to lower health care costs, reduce errors and increase efficiency through the use of electronic health care records.