Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)
Congresswoman to bring New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Helen Arteaga to stand against President’s attacks on health care and their impacts on New York
QUEENS, NY – To stand against President Trump’s attacks on health care and their impacts on New York, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that the New York City Deputy Mayor who oversees city health services will be her guest for the President’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24th.
Meng will bring the new Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Helen Arteaga, to the speech to express opposition to Republicans’ massive cuts to Medicaid, and their refusal to renew the tax credits that help millions of New Yorkers – and Americans across the country – afford their health insurance premiums.
“I have known Dr. Arteaga for many years and worked closely with her when she was the head of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst,” said Congresswoman Meng. “She is deeply committed to our health system and ensuring that all New Yorkers receive the care they need. The President and Congressional Republicans slashing Medicaid and letting health care tax credits expire will have devastating impacts throughout our city. It has already caused the cost of health insurance to skyrocket and stands to strip health coverage away from so many city residents. She and I, as well as people across New York, are united in opposing these unconscionable assaults on health care, and her presence at the State of the Union will underscore how completely unacceptable it is. We will keep up the fight against these efforts to harm New Yorkers.”
“I am deeply disturbed and disheartened by recent attacks on our healthcare system. For millions of New Yorkers, critical services were already out of reach, and instead of helping ease the burden, the federal government cut Medicaid and gutted the Affordable Care Act, making health care less accessible and affordable,” said Dr. Arteaga. “I am proud to join Congresswoman Grace Meng at the State of the Union to represent the myriad of New Yorkers who are struggling to meet their basic health care needs and whose voices too often go unheard in our nation’s capital.”
Dr. Arteaga was appointed to her new position by Mayor Mamdani last month. As Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, she oversees thirteen agencies and offices across the health, social services, children’s services and related areas.
Prior to her appointment, Dr. Arteaga served as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, a Level I Trauma Center and the second-oldest public hospital in New York City, which is located in Meng’s congressional district.
In Congress, Meng has fought against Republicans’ attacks on health care. She voted no and spoke out against the Medicaid cuts that the President signed into law this past July 4th as part of the Big Ugly Bill, which will slash Medicaid by $1 TRILLION – the largest cut to health care in American history. These cuts could rip away health coverage from nearly 12 million Americans and devastate hospitals, community health centers and nursing homes, all to provide tax breaks for the richest people in the country.
The Congresswoman also criticized her Republican colleagues’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that expired this past December 31st and pushed for them to be renewed. In addition, she voted for the legislation passed by the House last month that would restore the tax credits for three additional years. The measure has not been passed by the Senate. These ACA subsidies help approximately 22 million Americans afford the health insurance they purchase from federal and state marketplaces.
The State of the Union is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. tomorrow (on Tuesday) inside the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.