Lowering Health Care Costs For All Americans

Lowering Health Care CostS For All Americans

As a member of the Healthy Future Task Force, I know how important it is to modernize and personalize America’s health care system in order to better meet individual’s needs. That’s why I recently emailed an e-survey to constituents asking which priorities are most important to you and your family when it comes to your health plan. The number one answer I received was lowering costs for services and prescriptions.

The Healthy Future Task Force will lead the charge on identifying legislative fixes that can help lower costs for all Americans and make health care affordable. I look forward to working on this important issue and will keep you updated as we continue to craft our patient-focused agenda.

Highlighting The Broadband Needs of Rural America

Expanding broadband access to our rural communities is one of my top priorities in Congress. This week I spoke on the House floor highlighting that Congress has appropriated well over $300 billion dollars of which states and local governments could provide broadband access. We must ensure funds are being utilized to meet the connectivity needs of rural America. This is only possible if federal broadband maps are accurate.

That’s why this month I sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter, signed by my fellow members from Georgia, to the FCC urging them to utilize data from the Georgia Broadband Map program in their new mapping program, and insisting that regular updates be provided to Congress. You can read our letter here.

Sounding the Alarm: Inflation is Taxation

Since day one, the Biden Administration has been on a spending spree. Now we’re seeing inflation rise at the fastest rate in nearly 13 years. With inflation factored in, American workers are making 1.7% less than they did a year ago and paying more for just about everything.

The numbers speak for themselves:

Gas prices are up 45.1%
Milk is up 5.6%
Fruit is up 7.3%
Washing machines are up 29.4%
Car rentals are up 87.7%
Hotels are up 16.9%

It’s simple, inflation is taxation. It’s time to get our fiscal house in order.

Demanding Answers on Passport Delays

An increasing number of travelers are experiencing extreme delays in getting their passports processed. This week I sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State requesting an immediate answer as to why these delays are occurring and when we can expect this issue to be addressed.

As a reminder, here are some tips to avoid delays:

Check expiration dates before booking a trip.
Apply early -- at least six months in advance of your planned departure date.
Use trackable mail to quickly ship the application and purchase overnight delivery for the State Dept. to return the completed passport.
Ensure applications are accurate and complete. Any issues with citizenship, ID, fees, or photos could cause delays well beyond the original 18 weeks.

Opposing The Biden Administration’s Censorship Campaign

Government must never infringe on the First Amendment rights of Americans, and I’m deeply concerned over recent reports that the Biden Administration is flagging social media posts that they deem as “misinformation” and requesting Facebook remove them. That is why I joined over 190 of my House Republican colleagues in opposing the White House’s efforts.

In a letter to President Biden, we write:

“Your administration’s efforts to pressure private entities to promote approved speech and censor disfavored speech undermines fundamental foundation of the First Amendment. It is the type of behavior we would expect from a Cuban dictator, not a President of the United States who is also the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.”

You can read our full letter here.

Advocating For Apprenticeships in the Direct Care Workforce

This week the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, of which I am the Lead Republican, held a joint subcommittee hearing on the direct care workforce. During the hearing I recognized the importance of direct care workers, and acknowledged the high turnover in the labor market for direct care workers.

Instead of new federal government programs, I believe there are innovative solutions to address health care workforce challenges. This is why I advocated for more apprenticeship-style programs that combine structured on-the-job learning and classroom-based instruction, ultimately giving individuals a low-risk option to determine if a job is a good fit for them.

Meeting with Georgia FFA State Officers

I had the privilege of meeting with Georgia Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Officers to talk about Agriculture Education and rural broadband.

Denouncing Socialism

In recent weeks we’ve seen Cuban citizens take to the streets demanding freedom and protesting the Castro regime that has left them oppressed for over 60 years. We’ve seen the evils of socialism throughout history, which directly contradicts our founding principles. I joined over 190 of my House Republican colleagues denouncing socialism in all its forms to make clear there is no room for socialism in America.

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As a small businessman, I understand how much employers want to provide quality health coverage for their employees, and Association Health Plans provide that opportunity for small businesses.

That’s why this week, I joined my colleague Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-07) in introducing H.R. 4547, the Association Health Plans Act of 2021, legislation to expand health care options and lower costs for small businesses through association health plans.

My office is here to help. You can email me ⇒ HERE, contact any of our offices or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Sincerely,

Rick Allen
Member of Congress