On the recordFebruary 14, 2017
This beautiful child is Charlie. Charlie is an infant from Westport, Massachusetts. Charlie's dad has a green card and his mom is an American citizen. Charlie's mom wrote me to share their family's Affordable Care Act story, an important one, yet, in many respects, not that uncommon. When Charlie was born, his mother had to postpone her Ph.D. ambitions because she needed a full-time job to support her family. Although she has two master's degrees, she is working over 40 hours per week in a restaurant. That restaurant doesn't offer benefits, so Charlie's mom has to purchase her own health insurance policy for her family. The Affordable Care Act has helped them find the health plan they need at a price they can afford. Charlie's family got covered. Charlie's mom also wrote me to tell me that, on January 21, she came to Washington and marched with women from around the world because of the fact that all families like hers should have health care, for all children like Charlie who need health care, and because she believes Americans should want all their neighbors to be healthy. I agree with Charlie's mom. We should all have access to essential healthcare services. This is a family working to make it on their own, not seeking transitional assistance from the government, sacrificing to move their family forward, striving to succeed, to earn the American Dream. The Affordable Care Act provides them this opportunity. ____________________
