Congressman Steven Horsford Invites Nevada Health Care Advocate Ruby Duncan to State of the Union Address

Washington, DC — Joining Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) at the 2020 State of the Union address on February 4, 2020, will be Ruby Duncan, a lifelong welfare rights and health care advocate whose organization, Operation Life, operated a medical clinic to provide health care to Nevada's most vulnerable families.

"It is an honor to be joined by such a fierce advocate for Nevada's families and their health care at the State of the Union address, particularly when that address will be delivered on behalf of an administration that has continued to cut funding for programs that provide necessary services to our state's impoverished people," Congressman Horsford said. "Ruby's life's work is vital to the health and wellness of my constituents in Nevada and I hope her presence will draw attention to the importance of family assistance and health care access programs across the country."

After dedicating her life to ensuring the people of Las Vegas have access to the care they need, Ms. Duncan is facing the same barriers to health care that many senior citizens around the country face every day. Ms. Duncan, like many seniors, relies on Social Security as her only source of income.

"I can't see the doctors I need to see, and if I can see those doctors, I have to spend hundreds of dollars a month on the bills or on my prescriptions," Ms. Duncan said. "Senior citizens are just trying to survive. I can hardly afford my rent, let alone these other health care bills."

More information on Ms. Duncan and her important work for Nevadans can be found here.

Expanding health care access and reducing costs for all Nevadans is a top priority for Congressman Horsford. The Congressman fought to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act to curb rising drug prices and make prescriptions more affordable for all Americans. He also introduced the SPIKE ACT, bipartisan legislation to stop pharmaceutical industry price gouging by requiring them to justify their large price hikes.

The Congressman also voted to pass the Protecting Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions Act—legislation he co-sponsored to stop the Trump Administration from allowing insurance companies to discriminate against sick Nevadans. He co-sponsored legislation overturning the Trump Administration's rule allowing short-term ‘junk' health plans that permit insurance companies to discriminate against Nevadans with pre-existing conditions, and refuse to provide essential health services.