news

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement after Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and roll back historic gains in coverage and access to care. 

“Today, my colleagues in the House of Representatives voted to rip health insurance away from at least 24 million Americans and turn back the clock on progress to ensure quality, affordable healthcare for all. This legislation literally means life or death for people across this country – it guts protections for pre-existing conditions, ends Medicaid expansion – which reduced the uninsured rate in Michigan by half – charges older Americans five times more for care, and steals from Medicare – all in order to give $600 billion in tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations. This is not who we are. 

“The American people must continue to make their voices heard on this dangerous bill that will leave working men and women worse off and could ultimately cost lives. This is about real people, and it is our job to ensure that if they are sick, they can get the care they need. This bill does the exact opposite.”

Dingell urged her colleagues to vote against this dangerous proposal on the House floor earlier today. Her remarks can be viewed here and read below.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong opposition to this misguided legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 

This vote might be the single most important issue our Congress deals with. It literally means life or death for too many people in our country. 

What we vote on today is ultimately a reflection of our values as a nation. I believe that we have a moral responsibility to take care of the most vulnerable among us. The nuns taught me that, the Bible teaches us that – the sick, the poor, the elderly – and this dangerous bill does nothing to protect them. In fact, it will do more harm to our most vulnerable. 

129 million Americans suffer from a pre-existing condition. They are our neighbors, our friends and for some, our family. They’re the people attending their town hall meetings. 

For me, I am a caregiver. I spend more time at the hospital and the doctors’ than I want to, and person after person comes up to me and tells me their story, and begs me that they will not lose their insurance. 

Healthy Michigan let them go to the doctor for the first time. The Affordable Care Act made a guarantee that someone with a pre-existing condition would not be charged more than healthy people, and that coverage would be available to all. 

Thank you, please vote against this shameful bill.