He emphasized that the bishops would continue work for those "most in need at all stages of life."
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the US bishops' conference, said discussion of health care "impacts nearly everyone in our society, but we as bishops strive to engage in this debate as a voice for the voiceless, for the poor, the sick, the unborn. There is still much to be done as the Senate considers a repeal and replacement for the Affordable Care Act."
Among other bishops who spoke on the topic were Bishop George Thomas of Helena, who said we live in a time of "great gravity" as budget votes draw near which will affect Medicaid and nutritional assistance programs, and called for the bishops to work "by raising up a new degree of public consciousness." Quoting Robert Frost, he implored the bishops that they "'choose the road less traveled' for the sake of the people we have been ordained to serve."
Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago also took the floor, saying that "the state has a responsibility of creating solidarity in a country," and noted that religious sisters working in health care should be consulted in further discussions. Bishop Dewane clarified that this has been the case already.
Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego observed a "debasement of language" in the national health care debate, citing that while Bishop Dewane spoke of a "robust access," the access being offered is only "access in theory, access if you've got enough money."
He also noted that "health care is a fundamental human right," but said the AHCA has been designed as "a house of sand which will deliberately fall apart in the coming years." He also said that bishops should automatically oppose any bill which is projected to lower the number of people with access to health care.
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City explained that under the Affordable Care Act, his local Church lost all its Catholic hospitals, and said that the ACA's "Medicaid provisions were not sustainable by the states."
He noted also that while the Obama administration had promised there would always be an option for a plan that did not offer abortions, that promise turned out to be false.