Healthcare
Congresswoman Maloney passionately believes we can make our health care system more effective, affordable, and inclusive -- that we can improve care for everyone and extend insurance to all Americans. She’s committed to the health of all Americans, especially our children and our elderly. Medicare, she firmly believes, is a crucial program that provides security and dignity for America’s seniors. As Republicans mount attacks on Medicare, Carolyn has constantly defended a program that provides the medical care our elderly deserve. She has also focused on preventative care, disease research, and vaccine safety. Carolyn has written and supported legislation that saves American lives, including:
- The Affordable Care Act (ACA). Until the ACA became law, 45,000 Americans died every year because they did not have insurance. Carolyn was proud to vote for “Obamacare” and extend health care to 2.5 million uninsured New Yorkers in desperate need. The ACA means that young New Yorkers can stay on their parents insurance until they turn 26. It means women can no longer be charged more than men for the exact same health care plans. And it means no one will be denied medical care for a pre-existing condition they are not responsible for. So Carolyn wholeheartedly supported the ACA, which provides high quality, affordable health-care for America while extending insurance to the most vulnerable in our nation.
- The Cancer Screening Coverage Act (CASCA), which required health insurance plans to cover cancer screening for some of the most deadly yet preventable diseases. This would have meant affordable mammograms, Pap smear tests, prostate cancer screening, and pelvic exams - allowing detection when treatment is most effective and least expensive.
- The Tanning Accountability and Notification (TAN) Act. The TAN Act, which Carolyn introduced, required reporting of the cancer risks linked to tanning salons. Because of Carolyn’s persistence, the TAN provisions were included in Section 230 of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act. The research has led to clear labeling explaining that UV radiation causes skin cancer, and publicizing the risks to consumers.
- The Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2007. This Act banned vaccines containing mercury from being given to children under three years old. Mercury is alarmingly harmful to the neurodevelopment of very young children, so Carolyn co-sponsored this act to protect them from irreversible harm.
- The Breast Cancer Early Detection Act, which Carolyn was especially proud to introduce, covered annual mammograms for women over 65, helping with early detection of the most common form of cancer in American women.
- The Congressional Working Group on Parkinson’s Disease, of which Carolyn is a co-chair, helped direct $225 million towards Parkinson’s research.



















