Statement: UNAC/UHCP President Denise Duncan on Passage of the Senate Republican Tax Bill

December 2017

PRESS STATEMENT

UNAC/UHCP President Denise Duncan, RN, issued the following statement on the Republican tax bill:

"The Republican Senate tax bill is a travesty for the millions of working families who will see a tax increase under this remarkably cruel piece of legislation. The true costs of this legislation may not be obvious from what it changes in our tax laws. It is our younger relatives still finishing up their education or starting out in the job market who will face unnecessary challenges saving for a home or starting a family because of this bill.

“We already see Americans in their twenties struggling to afford the staggering price of rent while earning substandard wages as freelancers or contractors. With this tax bill, Republicans have added a higher tax burden and reduced access to health insurance to the plate of many young Americans whose jobs don’t provide health care as a benefit.

"The Congressional Budget Office found eliminating the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate would increase health insurance premiums by 10% and add 13 million more uninsured. Under the Senate tax bill, millions of working families and young adults will not be able to afford to purchase health care on the individual market. As a nurse, I hate to think of the human toll of forgoing health insurance. Millions of Americans will suffer in pain and face a reduced quality of life due to this Republican tax bill.

"There are steps Congress can take to increase the health of the country, though this tax bill will still be a major setback. We urge Republican Congressional leaders to focus their efforts toward renewing the Children's Health Insurance Program and passing the Alexander-Murray stabilization bill to ensure health insurance remains affordable."

###

United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) represents over 30,000 registered nurses and other health care professionals in California including, optometrists; pharmacists; physical, occupational and speech therapists; case managers; nurse midwives; social workers; clinical lab scientists; physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Media Contact: Jeff Rogers, Communications Specialist
Jeff.Rogers@unacuhcp.org | 909-263-7230