Sr. Simone Campbell Responds to Withdrawal of Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Proposal

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“Common sense has prevailed! Today we are celebrating, but we will remain relentless in our advocacy.”

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]For Immediate Release: September 26, 2017
Contact: Ashley Wilson, awilson@networklobby.org, 202-601-7856

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –In response to the withdrawal the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:

“Common sense has prevailed! We are relieved that Senate leadership decided not to vote this week on the harmful, partisan, and rushed Graham-Cassidy proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid.

“I hope that this will be a wake-up call for Congress to listen to the needs of their people, follow regular order, and work together for bipartisan solutions to our nation’s problems. Taking federal Medicaid funding from children, working families, elderly in nursing homes, people with disabilities, and people struggling to get by to give it to the very wealthiest in tax cuts does not meet the Gospel mandate to care for one another, nor our Constitution’s call to promote the common good.

“This is a victory for all who called Congress, told their stories, and advocated for healthcare as a right, not a privilege. But the next threats to healthcare are just around the corner. Congress must recommit to stabilizing the individual marketplace and extending funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Disproportionate Share Hospital payments before funding expires.

“We also know that Republicans are gearing up to push a big tax bill whose central aim appears to be to give more tax breaks to wealthy individuals and big corporations. Trickle down tax policy is the single largest contributor to income and wealth inequality in our nation. As with healthcare, the Republicans in Congress are proposing to sabotage and double-down on failed policy that hurt our communities. Congress must make sure the wealthy are paying their fair share to support the common good rather than working to create more loopholes for rich donors.

“Today, the Catholic Sisters and activists of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice are celebrating, but we will remain vigilant and relentless in our advocacy. We will continue to hold Congress accountable to vulnerable individuals and families rather than wealthy donors and corporations.”

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NETWORK, a national Catholic Social Justice lobby, which educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation, has a more than 40-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]