Over the last two years Democrats, including Minnesota’s own Rep. Angie Craig, have introduced multiple pieces of legislation that would do just that. From lowering health insurance premiums and prescription drug costs to shoring up provisions in the law that have been weakened administratively by the Trump administration, Democrats have continued to push for increased health care access and affordability. None of these bills have been taken up by the U.S. Senate.
Rep. Angie Craig says we need an equitable distribution plan for an eventual vaccine that reaches all communities, calls for healthy competition in the drug development arena, stresses U.S. still needs a federal strategy on testing and contract tracing.
“The ACA was passed a decade ago in this country,” Craig said. “Why can’t we put the politics of this aside and just say, let’s improve our health care system?”
Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig hosted policymakers and real estate professionals to learn more about and to collaborate on the best ways to address racial disparities in homeownership in Minnesota. “In Minnesota, the homeownership rate among white households is 77% compared to only 24% among Black households. Today, I brought folks together to discuss this issue and how we can address it so that everyone can fulfill the American dream,” said Craig. “At the end of the day, this is about making sure families can pass that American dream on to their children.”
Now, another Minnesota member of Congress — Rep. Angie Craig — is leading an effort to pass legislation that would allow business owners to apply for a second PPP loan as long as their sales have declined at least 50% since the onset of COVID-19.
Angie’s record in Congress over the last two years has shown that she will put in the work to lower out-of-pocket costs and prescription drug prices.
And according to Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig, who authored the latest PPP bill, that’s changing. “In the second round in the negotiation process, we did a better job of making sure that we carved out dollars for the smallest of small businesses,” Craig said. She says that is also true of this third round of PPP money that is available now. “Take another look at the program. If you have trouble finding a lender, call my district office, we will help get the list,” Craig said.
Unlike many representatives, Craig actually shows up. She hasn’t missed a single vote in Congress. And, when she is home, she is a visible presence in every community in the 2nd District. Even during a pandemic, Craig is still working to be accessible to her constituents. Just last week, she held her 18th public town hall meeting.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig was lead sponsor of the successful push in Congress to extend a federal subsidy program for small businesses hurt by the coronavirus.
“The administration of this program has been absolutely terrible,” said Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), after recounting a story in which it took the SBA more than a week to check on the status of a loan application for a business in her district.
