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>> And welcome back to Houston
newsmakers, where I’m joined
now by congresswoman Lizzie
Fletcher, Democrat representing
the 7th congressional district.
Thank you, congresswoman, for
joining me this morning.
Very busy, Thomas. Jump right
in to talk about the American
rescue plan. The big lot of
money. Republicans say too much
money, not targeted enough.
Your response to that?
>> Well, Kim Burrell, first of
all, it’s always great to be
with you. And I’m glad to get a
chance to talk with you and to
talk about the American rescue
plan because we have just
slipped through an incredibly
difficult year and the American
rescue plan really represents
that help is on the way.
How people have been asking
for calling my office for more
than a year now. And it does
really 3 key things that Tex
up make itself. You know, we’re
starting to see the light at
the end of that. How we are not
through this crisis yet and
won’t be able to get there
until
we finally put an end to the
virus. So that staff won and
friends back scenes in vaccine
distribution and testing and
those things are just
absolutely vital. Number 2, it
brings her gently needed help
to those who need it most.
To family to local governments
are on the frontlines of this
pandemic to our small
businesses, to our schools.
These are really essential
investments that we’ve been
talking about now for a year
and 3rd, it makes health care
more accessible. And during
this public health crisis.
We have seen in the health of
the members of our community
affects all of us. And so
during this pandemic, making
health care more accessible
absolutely vital. And so those
are the key elements of this
plan. And I think it really is
the help we need at this
moment. One of the parts of
included within. It was expand
Medicaid.
>> Actor was designed to
increase the eligibility for
Medicaid should states like
Texas decide to do it. First
of all, how how
is that going to work. Because
Texas hasn’t shown any
inclination to expand Medicaid
at this point.
>> I do know that folks in the
Legislature this session are
pushing very Texas has not
expanded Medicaid is one of
12 states that haven’t expanded
Medicaid in the last decade
under the affordable care act.
I actually wrote a bill
introduced in Congress and the
state Medicaid now acting as
made part of the American
rescue plan because it is
so important. We’re in the
middle of a pandemic. We’re in
the middle of the health care
crisis. We’re in a health
crisis in the state of Texas.
We have the highest uninsured
rate in the nation. And there
are people who are fallen to
this coverage Gash people who
can’t get Medicaid but too much
money for Medicaid but don’t
make enough money to get on the
affordable care act exchanges.
So, yeah, million Texans that
all into that category about
200,000 investment in Harris
County so what my bill does is
give additional incentives for
states like Texas that haven’t
expanded Medicaid by increasing
the federal match for any new
expansion. State. More dollars
will flow to Texas. And I said
it estimated to help get about
a million low income tax and
access to health care and it
will help address the issues
across our state and across
our and there are other from
this as well. So it’s really
important. So I was so glad
to see included in the American
rescue plan and I hope that
my colleagues and friends in
the Texas Legislature will take
the lessons we’ve learned from
the last year how important it
is for people all across our
state that access to health
care and use they experience.
We we are having right to
rethink Texas. If approached a
Medicaid expansion, this bill
passed with no help, no support
from Republicans out. I’ll be
talking with congressman
Crenshaw a bit later on about.
>> The hope that there might be
some chance for bipartisanship.
Are you hopeful that there can
be
any bipartisan. I know you’re
working with the congressman to
call on something which kind of
show that there is a chance for
that.
>> Something that I’ve been
focused on. I got to Congress
there are places where we
agree. Certainly there are
places that we disagree.
And that’s what we’re seeing
here to do is to debate the
best policy But I have
introduced 2 bills now with
congressman won the lead actor
that came directly from the
7th congressional district in
some of some residents who were
experiencing challenges in the
coronavirus pandemic on top
of challenges recovering from
Harvey and there some specific
assistance there and then first
original bill that passed
Congress with more than 400
votes in the 100 16th Congress
didn’t make it through
the Senate. Congressman mccall.
I reintroduced a bill together
as well. And it’s bipartisan
and we are high partisan
measures. I partisan votes in
support of the dream just this
week and
I are fortunately for
bipartisanship because it
really got caught at this
moment. We need everyone to
come together to solve is the
tremendous challenges and on
disappointed that not a single
Republican voted for the
American rescue plan for that I
heard from my constituents as
well as the elected officials
in Houston and Harris County
and my small cities within the
7th congressional district that
all can the benefits of this
American rescue plan. I do
believe that there will be
other opportunities for
especially we have an
infrastructure package coming
up now be working a lot.
And I do. I very much hope that
my Republican colleagues hope
will participate in that
Important work ahead of us.
So you’re going to stick with
me. We’re going to newsmakers
extra. And that’s a good thing
because I want to talk to you
about
the election.
>> So vote or a suppression
slash enhancements that are
going on
by Republicans also immigration