Full Statement From Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Full statement from U.S. Rep.
Sheila Jackson Lee:

“What hospital have I not helped? I have helped hospitals in the medical center. I have helped the public
hospital system. I have helped hospitals in the downtown area. I have helped hospitals outside of 610 in
my district. UMMC, newly named and located, is in a healthcare desert-Acres Homes. People are
suffering because they do not live close to a hospital, whether they are expectant mothers, children, and
most of all our seniors. I have seniors standing alongside me fighting to keep the hospital open. The y
came to any number of meetings to support keeping the hospital open, and to support those people who
worked at the hospital, and who lived in Acres Homes and the surrounding area. The hospital has many
employees from around Houston. There are doctors who are diverse and were able to respond to the
needs of Acres Homes and the surrounding area.
The record will show that I have been helping this facility in its prior name for many years since becoming
a Member of Congress. I helped this facility during Hurricane Ike, and I have since advocated to the
federal government to keep the hospital open. The previous name I know of is Doctors Hospital at
Tidwell, and I sat in many meetings trying to ensure that the neighborhood had a health facility. To
suggest anything else, other than the service that I gave to my constituents and still will continue to give,
to me, is so absolutely devastating to the purpose of being a Member of Congress. The role of a Member
of Congress is to facilitate on behalf of the people of the United States in whatever district you are in –
the ability to work with the federal government to get their questions answered, and yes to get them
more time to fix their problems. The federal government is big and difficult – that is the purpose of the
people who represent their district in the people’s House. That is what the House of Representatives is.
And I am a legislator, but I am also an administrator and CEO for the committees I chair – the knowledge
that I have, from Homeland Security, Judiciary, and the Budget Committees, I know how to translate the
powers of the federal government, which sometimes again can be challenging to help the people of my
district. In addition, I was actively engaged in trying to work to have coverage from the expanded
Medicaid monies we so desperately need, although our state never accepted. I worked hard to settle the
1115 Medicaid Waiver lawsuit and finally resolved it in the last Congress for that time period. Even
before that, I worked with a County judge, and since that time, with other County officials, and other
Members of Congress to think of anyway expanded Medicaid could be accepted - as did other states,
who had state governments refusing to accept expanded Medicaid coverage.
Healthcare is a crucial issue for the 18th Congressional District, in all parts, and I am clearly a person who
is concerned. When a hospital was lost on I-10E, in the Jacinto City area, I was certainly a part of
discussions of how we could get another hospital in that area. Healthcare is a lifeline to communities
who cannot travel far away distances to have good healthcare. Why would I not help this facility? It is
positioned in the very neighborhood, the backyard of Acres Homes, and in one of the neediest areas
traditionally for needing healthcare. Might I add, I worked with President George W. Bush to expand
access to community health clinics. Look at how many we have now! That was between 2004 and 2008.
Then my discussions on this topic had an impact, and more and more Houston/Harris County
communities applied and were successful in getting federally qualified healthcare centers. Nothing else
should be attributed to my intent to help my constituents. The people are my cause. Their well-being is
my concern, and only concern. I expect that I will not change and will continue to put people first.”

Full Statement From Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

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Full Statement From Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

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Full statement from U.S. Rep.

Sheila Jackson Lee:

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