Rep. Shuler Statement on House Bill to Repeal Affordable Care Act

Statement

Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC) released the following statement following the vote on H.R. 6079, a bill to repeal in full the Affordable Care Act :

"I see today's vote as a pro-life issue and one of great moral consequence. Do we turn our backs on the 17 million children with pre-existing conditions who were once denied health care coverage but now receive treatment? Should we say 'tough luck' to the 6.6 million young adults who now have health care under their parents' insurance plans but would lose their eligibility under a full repeal? And what of the over 5 million seniors who have saved an average of $650 annually through addressing the 'donut hole,' -- do we ask them to forego their savings and give it back to the government? Over two million employees now receive health coverage because their small business employer was able to take advantage of tax credits -- do we also ask them to return their health care coverage?

It's true that I did not support the Affordable Care Act, but my strong pro-life philosophy cannot reconcile or justify how we pull the rug out from beneath these individuals now.

"As I said the last time Congress voted on a full repeal of the health care law, Congress continues to fail the American people when it comes to health care. We need to work together to address the very real health care challenges before us by keeping the portions of the law that work, and fixing the portions that do not."

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