Leader Schumer Statement On The Sixteenth Anniversary Of The Affordable Care Act

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following statement commemorating the 16^th anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which comes as Republicans continue to make health care more expensive and harder to get:

"On January 1^st, Republicans unleashed a health care affordability crisis on the American people by choosing to let the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits expire.

"Now - millions of Americans are facing lapses in care and skyrocketing premiums, forcing some to choose between paying for groceries or lifesaving medicine. Bit-by-bit, Republicans are chipping away at this revolutionary legislation that I was so proud to help pass 16 years ago.

"The ACA is lifeline for millions of Americans that would otherwise have no reasonable pathway to coverage. Thanks to the ACA, nearly 50 million people have gained health insurance coverage. Over 120 million Americans with pre-existing conditions were finally protected from discriminatory insurance practices. Millions of Americans gained access to free preventive care like cancer screenings and vaccines.

"While Republicans are trying to take away these gains and make it harder and more expensive to get health care, Senate Democrats will never give up on fighting for more affordable and accessible care."

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