Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 1/16/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined President Trump, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and several colleagues in Congress for a roundtable discussion on strengthening rural health care across the country. 

WATCH: CONGRESSMAN LAWLER SPEAK AT WHITE HOUSE ROUNDTABLE ON RURAL HEALTHCARE

The discussion focused on the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic $50 billion federal investment designed to expand access, modernize facilities, and strengthen the rural health care workforce. New York State will receive more than $212 million in the program’s first year, resources that will directly support workforce development and ensure families in rural and semi-rural communities have access to essential care close to home.

President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act into law on July 4th, 2025, which created the Rural Health Transformation Program.

“I fundamentally believe that we can address the issues with Obamacare and make sure that the American people have access to care at a lower rate. We can get a bipartisan agreement to address the EPC with expansion of HSA so that the money goes to the people and not the insurance companies,” said Congressman Lawler.

Lawler highlighted key areas for reform, including:

• Lowering prescription drug prices through a most-favored-nation approach, targeting price controls to reduce costs in America.
• IVF coverage and support, ensuring insurance companies cover treatments, and providing tax incentives to make fertility care more accessible and affordable. 
• Meaningful PBM reform and associated health care plans, which could reduce costs by 11 percent and allow small businesses to pool together for more affordable coverage.
• Bipartisan support for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which deliver real relief to families and small businesses

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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