DeLauro Speaks Against GOP’s 56th Vote Attacking the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today spoke on the House floor against the House Majority’s 56th vote to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act. DeLauro is senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Health and Human Services. Her remarks are below and can be viewed here.

“Yesterday was Groundhog Day. How appropriate that the Republican Majority chose today for their fifty-sixth attempt to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act. These futile ideological gestures are getting old. The vote I cast for the healthcare law is one of the proudest I have cast in my political career because the reforms we put in place are helping millions of families across the nation.

“Americans can no longer be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. Preventive screenings, maternity care, and pediatric care are now all covered. Seniors enjoy relief from high drug costs. Millions of low-income children have healthcare through CHIP. Women’s health has been put on an even footing. Insurers can no longer subject families to lifetime caps on coverage. Annual caps are being phased out.

“According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Affordable Care Act has reduced the number of uninsured people by 12 million last year and 19 million this year. My Republican colleagues don’t really care about that because they have health care. Why should they care about people who do not have health care? The CBO has also cut its estimate of the cost of rolling out coverage to millions of Americans – a saving of $140 billion compared to previous estimates. This is good news. It should be on the front page of every newspaper.

“The Affordable Care Act has succeeded by putting people, not insurance companies, in charge of healthcare. It has given millions of families care they can depend on. We are a better country because of it. So I let me say to my colleagues in the majority: give it a rest. The American people like this law. The Supreme Court has upheld it. We have had two elections around it. Stop trying to take away people’s healthcare benefits.”


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