Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Fred Upton’s (R-MI) “good faith” attempts to obtain information about the Health and Human Services' unlawful spending for the Basic Health Fund have been ignored, so they are taking the next step. The program, established under the Affordable Care Act, provides coverage for low-income Americans and has only been applied in New York and Minnesota. Yet, $1.5 billion has apparently been shelled out to fund it.
The congressmen have subpoenaed HHS officials to appear before the Ways and Means committee to explain why the agency is funding the program without congressional approval.
“We’ve been trying to get answers since last June, but HHS simply will not cooperate," Chairmen Brady and Upton said in a statement. "The administration funneled $1.3 billion last year into the Basic Health Program without a congressional appropriation - a clear violation of the law. Our good faith attempts to learn basic, and targeted facts have been met with resistance every step of the way. The American public deserves answers now, ”
In their subpoena, the congressmen demand HHS secretary Sylvia Burwell not only appear before the committee, but provide documents detailing how the agency decided to distribute funds.