Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this important hearing on the Affordable Care Act.
In my heart of hearts, I believe that health care is a right. When President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, a new day began, one that was free of worry about what would happen if someone in their family got sick.
The Affordable Care Act has opened the door for millions of Americans to access this sacred right for the first time in our country's history. Let us take a moment to review the many accomplishments of the Affordable Care Act --
* 8 million people now have health insurance coverage;
* 3.1 million young people are able to stay on their parents’ health plan instead of being uninsured; and
* 129 million Americans -- including 17 million children -- with pre-existing conditions, are no longer denied coverage or charged higher premiums.
Sometimes I think we forget what it is like to get sick and not be able to go to the hospital. We forget -- or maybe we do not know what it is like -- to look at the face of your sick son or your sick daughter, and know that you cannot afford the treatment they need. The Affordable Care Act changed that reality for millions of people.
Today, women can no longer be charged higher premiums just because they are women, and 105 million Americans no longer face a dollar limit on their coverage. This means that if faced with an expensive disease like cancer, they know their treatment will be covered, and their families will not go bankrupt. The Affordable Care Act did that. This is a law that has literally saved people’s lives by giving them health insurance.
We will not and must not return to the dark days when many of our fellow citizens could not afford health care and the federal government did nothing. Republicans have voted 52 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Whenever a topic about the ACA is on the table, it seems to be code for one thing - repeal, destroy, go back.
After 52 votes to nowhere, I think it is very clear that we will not go back. Instead of focusing on repeal, we should encourage improvements and preparation. For the good of all of our constituents, we need to look forward and put an end to the political games.
Realizing the dream of health care has meant new challenges for the federal government. It has not been easy; it is not a light task. We must ensure that the agencies have the resources, staff, training, and technology they need to help our constituents get the health care services they need and deserve. I hope that we can put our differences aside and come together to make the transition smoother for our constituents and for those trying to serve them.
Thank you. I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
