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“Healthcare is an inalienable human right that permeates every aspect of our lives, and affects our capacity to live, work and succeed. It is our responsibility to ensure that all Americans, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, creed, religion, and ability are given access to quality affordable care. We must also support state and local efforts to provide better and more efficient care, protecting the rights of patients and their doctors while ensuring proper access to our communities.”
- Congressman Mike Honda
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PROVEN RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ON HEALTHCARE
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PROVEN ADVOCATE OF HEALTHCARE REFORM
Everyone should have access to first-rate affordable healthcare. Many Americans unnecessarily put off pressing medical care simply because they cannot afford it. As one of the most powerful countries in the world, this fact is both a sobering reminder of the problems in our healthcare system and a call-to-action to end the inequality found in our system. Mike has been a tireless advocate for expanded health coverage, being outspoken on the need for health care reform, proudly standing on the frontlines with President Obama in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He strongly believes in the concept of universal health care, believing that the health of Americans should not be provided on a for-profit basis. Since 2000, Mike has secured nearly $20 million in federal funds for quality district health care projects. |
DEFENDER OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO CRITICAL SERVICES
Mike has been consistently been rated 100% by both NARAL and Planned Parenthood for his passionate advocacy on behalf of women everywhere. He strongly believes that women have the sole right over their bodies. In defending that right, he has co-signed numerous bills emphasizing a woman’s right to choose, providing increased access to preventative and pre-natal care, and appropriating nearly a million dollars into necessities such as mammography and ultrasound equipment for District hospitals. |
ADVOCATING FOR THE ELDERLY
Mike has championed the Medicare program since coming to Congress, actively fighting for seniors’ health rights and ensuring that the guaranteed benefit nature of the program is not removed. During the 112th Congress, he was a leading voice in strongly opposing the Republican plan to privatize Social Security and ‘voucherize’ Medicare while shifting the costs of premiums to seniors. His support for these critical programs has been unwavering, always leading to protect, improve, and expand our nation’s safety net. He is committed to protecting Social Security and has repeatedly co-sponsored the Social Security Fairness Act, which would allow public servants to also receive their full benefits instead of getting a reduction due to their pensions. Receiving consistent 100% scores from the Alliance for Retired Americans, he is also vocal in his support for reducing the cost of prescription medication. During the health care debate, he pushed his colleagues to close the ‘donut hole’ as part of health reform and has been on the forefront of efforts renegotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies in Medicare Part D to take advantage of the government’s buying power. |
WORKING TO LESSEN ETHNIC DISPARITIES
As long-time Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Mike has worked to ensure that the needs of underserved communities are addressed in Congress. He fought to include historic language access and ethnic disparity provisions in health care reform. He has also been a leader in helping write the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act; a bill focused on addressing additional racial and ethnic health disparities, advocating for improved data collection, and cultural and linguistic services. |
ADDRESSING HEPATITIS AND TUBERCULOSIS
For Hepatitis, one of the greatest health disparities affecting communities of color, Mike is one of the primary authors on the bi-partisan Hepatitis Testing Act of 2011 and secured a proclamation from President Obama recognizing World Hepatitis Day. With Alameda and Santa Clara counties having among the highest national tuberculosis rates -- 2nd and 4th highest in California -- Mike has also ensured education and treatment funding into impacted counties. |
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