Health Care

WASHINGTON – After the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) signaled that it would not cover several diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange for at least a year – if at all, Representatives Josh Harder (CA-10) and Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced the Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act, which would require the VA to cover the conditions. Currently, Vietnam Veterans with specific health care problems developed as the result of exposure to Agent Orange during their service get "presumptive" access to benefits at the VA.

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) released the following statement in response to an appeals court ruling that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional. The case will return to a lower court, which will determine whether or not to throw out the entire law. If the law is repealed, millions of Americans would lose health care coverage. Republicans have yet to agree on a health care proposal that will preserve insurance protections for individuals with preexisting conditions.

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) today released a comprehensive end of year report detailing his accomplishments on behalf of the Central Valley in his first year in office. The report details Rep. Harder's legislative work, constituent services, and federal investments returned to the district in his first year in office.

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) today voted to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, legislation which would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and pass the same savings on to consumers on private insurance. The bill would cut costs for life-saving medications like insulin up to 75 percent and save Medicare $5 billion over ten years according to analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) is introducing the Increasing Access to Mental Health Act, legislation which will modernize existing rules to expand access to mental health facilities in the Valley. It will also provide grant funding to help connect people with mental and behavioral health concerns with important services once they leave treatment. Current laws prevent facilities that provide mental health care from offering services to more than 16 people at once which limits access to much-needed care. Rep.

Harder Introduces Bicameral Resolution, Contacts White House

WASHINGTON – Representatives Josh Harder (CA-10) and Paul Cook (CA-8) are leading a bipartisan coalition of California congressmembers in a letter asking House leadership to address looming cuts to a federal program which provides funding to hospitals which serve uninsured and underinsured patients. Medicaid's Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment program is designed to offset the costs hospitals bear in treating people without access to comprehensive insurance.

Modesto, CA – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) is finishing the most effective week yet of his first year in Congress. This week Rep. Harder passed a legislative provision through the House and five more pieces of legislation through three different committees. Each of the bills which passed committee this week is expected to pass the House in the coming months. More than 90% percent of bills introduced this Congress have not cleared the committee milestone.