Last week, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joined Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at Paul Quinn College to urge Texas residents to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
“Healthcare is the most important issue that I have addressed during my time as an elected official,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “It is inexcusable that Republican leaders in Texas, including Governor Rick Perry, have refused to work with the federal government to set up a healthcare exchange where the millions of uninsured Texans can secure affordable insurance and expanded Medicaid coverage.”
Secretary Sebelius highlighted the fact that Texas has a higher percentage of uninsured residents than any other state in the nation. “There are five million people in Texas without health insurance,” Secretary Sebelius said. “Having health insurance is the civil rights issue of our time. It makes no sense. It costs Texas $18 million each day that it refuses to accept Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.”
“Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson has been a champion in the fight for the expansion of healthcare insurance for our citizens,” said Secretary Sebelius. Congresswoman Johnson and Secretary Sebelius were joined at the press conference by executives from area hospitals, the president of the Dallas NAACP and Michael Sorrell, the President of Paul Quinn College.
