John Yarmuth: “I would like to remind my colleague that her vote today to repeal the Affordable Care Act will result in 266,000 people…”

“I would like to remind my colleague that her vote today to repeal the Affordable Care Act will result in 266,000 people from her State of Tennessee losing their healthcare coverage, 57,000 workers losing their jobs, and an economic loss of $34.2 billion in gross State product for the State of Tennessee over 5 years. The so-called budget before us was drafted by Republicans for the sole purpose of repealing the Affordable Care Act and defunding Planned Parenthood by a simple majority in the Senate. It squanders the opportunity to start this new Congress working together to address the concerns and priorities of the American people in a constructive and bipartisan manner. The Affordable Care Act is making an incredible difference across my home State of Kentucky, as in many other places. With our expansion of Medicaid and the success of our State marketplace, Kynect, more than half a million Kentuckians in a State of 4 million have gained quality, affordable coverage. In Louisville alone, the uninsured rate dropped 81 percent. In a State with tremendous health needs, we are a national model of ACA success. Even our Republican Senator, Rand Paul, and our Republican Governor, Matt Bevin, who are vehemently opposed to the law, know we can't go back to where we were before the ACA. They now acknowledge that Republicans in Congress should not repeal the Affordable Care Act without immediately replacing it.…”