Senator Murray Supports Biden Proposal to Make Health Care Expansion in American Rescue Plan Permanent

Senator Murray: Making ARP health care tax credits permanent is a “simple, commonsense step we should take right away.”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the White House’s newly released budget, which would make permanent the health care tax credits Senate Murray worked to pass as part of the American Rescue Plan, which are already lowering health care costs for millions of families.

“The American Rescue Plan was the biggest expansion of health care since the Affordable Care Act, and the tax credits we included for families are already cutting health care costs for people in Washington state and across the country. President Biden’s proposal to make that progress permanent is a simple, commonsense step we should take right away.

“However even as I push for us to take that step, I’m keeping my eyes on the horizon and looking at bigger, bolder steps families need us to take next. As President Biden has made clear, we all know there is a lot more we must do to make sure health care in this country is truly a right—not a privilege. Which is why I announced earlier this week I would be working to craft comprehensive legislation to establish a bold public option for health coverage. ”

Earlier this week, Senator Murray and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced their plans to develop legislation to establish a public option for health coverage to lower health care costs and help families get quality, affordable health care. The Chairs issued a Request for Information (RFI) as they begin to work with their colleagues who have put forward public option proposals of their own to craft new comprehensive legislation.

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