WASHINGTON, D.C. — CHA convened nearly 80 ministry advocates here for the 2017 Catholic Legislative Advocacy Conference on March 23 and 24. The conference took place as the House of Representatives debated the American Health Care Act, legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Attendees heard presentations from experts in the health care field, including staff members from key Senate offices. The health care legislation, which CHA opposed, was the main topic. But the conference also highlighted the importance and future of the Medicaid program, the proposed fiscal year 2018 federal budget and other topics of interest including recent actions by President Donald Trump's administration regarding immigrants and refugees.
Over the course of the two-day period, conference participants made approximately 150 visits on Capitol Hill. As the conference progressed, House leadership attempted to move to a floor vote on the American Health Care Act on both March 23 and 24. On both occasions, however, the leadership ultimately decided to pull the bill from consideration after it was clear that there was not enough support to pass it.
With the House deliberating the legislation, conference attendees had a rare opportunity to weigh in with lawmakers as they discussed the major changes to the health care system proposed in the bill. According to Tom Turner, vice president of government relations for Canton, Ohio-based Mercy Medical Center, the presence of ministry advocates helped shape that debate. "The urgency, the historic atmosphere and our long-term relationships I believe made a difference," he said.
Photo by Rick Reinhard/© CHA
Rick Reinhard/© CHA
Photo by Rick Reinhard/© CHA
