WLBT3: Rep. Bennie Thompson travels throughout MS advocating for rural healthcare
Congressman Bennie Thompson traveled throughout Mississippi to advocate for rural healthcare.
The visit highlighted the importance of protecting and expanding access to quality health care in underserved communities.
Accompanied by House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark from Massachusetts, Thompson made stops to Greenwood Leflore Hospital in Itta Bena, Ochsner Watkins Hospital in Quitman, Greenwood and Batesville to meet with local officials.
This is a part of a nationwide movement called “Save our Hospitals Day of Action.”
In a press conference, Thompson highlighted the lack of access to healthcare in Mississippi and across the country.
“I have several hospitals that are in bankruptcy. I have another hospital that’s about to close. I have three counties where there’s no hospital at all. So, what some people in other parts of the country take for granted, here in Mississippi, we struggle.”
Clark says access to quality healthcare shouldn’t be such a divisive topic.
“We just don’t believe that healthcare in this country should be a partisan issue. Let’s give the people in Mississippi and Americans across the country the tools to meet with success for their families.
Thompson says about 80 thousand Mississippians could lose their Medicaid benefits if President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is passed.
“What Democrats will be doing is continuing to highlight the adverse impact of not just what we call this ‘big ugly deal’, but the DOGE report and the work of the DOGE committee have been really harmful to this country and the more we can highlight it in the Itta Benas, Marks and Greenwoods of the world, then I think people will get it.”
Both say they hope visits like these can make a difference when it comes to legislation that affects so many people.
“We hope that as we keep the pressure up and connect with the American people, that a handful of Republicans would do the right thing and listen to the people who sent them to Congress.”
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Original story HERE.