Hakeem Jeffries

I think it's a fair question, certainly, that you're asking. But the way that healthcare has developed in the United States of America has been a far too cumbersome and complicated system. And what we've seen is a series of steps that have been taken to try to make it as equitable as possible.

You've got Medicare and then Medicaid and then the child health insurance program that was put into place during the Clinton era. And then the transformational work of the Affordable Care Act and then the subsidies that were enhanced during the Biden administration. Now, this is a long journey.

You've got Medicare and then Medicaid and then the child health insurance program that was put into place during the Clinton era. And then the transformational work of the Affordable Care Act and then the subsidies that were enhanced during the Biden administration. Now, this is a long journey.

But that's taken us to a place where about 90% to 95% of the American people now have access to insurance, in addition to, of course, what takes place in the private market with employer-based health care. But there are still gaps. There are still flaws.

But that's taken us to a place where about 90% to 95% of the American people now have access to insurance, in addition to, of course, what takes place in the private market with employer-based health care. But there are still gaps. There are still flaws.

Yeah, well, I think that point that you make about leveraging the ability of the government to bring about the best possible result for the American people is something that certainly we have to continue to lean into in the healthcare space and in every other space as it relates to improving the quality of life for the American people.

Yeah, well, I think that point that you make about leveraging the ability of the government to bring about the best possible result for the American people is something that certainly we have to continue to lean into in the healthcare space and in every other space as it relates to improving the quality of life for the American people.

I will say that one of the most important things that was accomplished in the previous administration is to give the federal government the ability to negotiate drug prices on behalf of the American people using the federal government's bulk price purchasing power. Right. The idea was, now it's limited to Medicare recipients. Right. That's tens of millions of people, and we got to expand it out.

I will say that one of the most important things that was accomplished in the previous administration is to give the federal government the ability to negotiate drug prices on behalf of the American people using the federal government's bulk price purchasing power. Right. The idea was, now it's limited to Medicare recipients. Right. That's tens of millions of people, and we got to expand it out.

Right? We got to expand it out. Yes. But here was the theory, John. Wait a second. Walmart- And Target and Best Buy are able to use their bulk price purchasing power to negotiate lower prices that they then present to the consumers and it increases their profitability because they can get a broader share of the market.

Right? We got to expand it out. Yes. But here was the theory, John. Wait a second. Walmart- And Target and Best Buy are able to use their bulk price purchasing power to negotiate lower prices that they then present to the consumers and it increases their profitability because they can get a broader share of the market.

Shouldn't the federal government be able to use that same market-based principle on behalf of the American people? No. So that is what we're working on. We have made progress in that direction because now the federal government can do it for Medicare recipients. The Republicans rejected expanding out that power to everyone. We'll continue to press forward for it.

Shouldn't the federal government be able to use that same market-based principle on behalf of the American people? No. So that is what we're working on. We have made progress in that direction because now the federal government can do it for Medicare recipients. The Republicans rejected expanding out that power to everyone. We'll continue to press forward for it.

We definitely got to make the system as clean as possible and continue to build upon the work that has been done. I will say that given the flood of outrageous behavior, extreme behavior, you know, thinking about 2028 at this moment for me is a luxury. Yeah. It's a luxury.

We definitely got to make the system as clean as possible and continue to build upon the work that has been done. I will say that given the flood of outrageous behavior, extreme behavior, you know, thinking about 2028 at this moment for me is a luxury. Yeah. It's a luxury.

Was that the House and the Senate or just the House? That was just the House. That was last week. It was a virtual meeting because we were all spread out across the country, back home in our districts. And that was in response to the unlawful, illegal Office of Management and Budget so-called funding freeze that was clear overreach. The American people rose up.

Was that the House and the Senate or just the House? That was just the House. That was last week. It was a virtual meeting because we were all spread out across the country, back home in our districts. And that was in response to the unlawful, illegal Office of Management and Budget so-called funding freeze that was clear overreach. The American people rose up.

I think it was announced on January 27th, this funding freeze. By January 29th, it was rescinded.

I think it was announced on January 27th, this funding freeze. By January 29th, it was rescinded.

Yeah, well, I think what they were referring to is that the blanket freeze is gone. Now, it's temporarily gone, and we're going to continue to press forward to make sure that it's permanently gone. What has not been rescinded were some of the executive orders that froze precise funding in certain areas that he issued on day one and day two. For example, the freeze as it relates to foreign aid.