Katherine Clark: “When President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, he told those gathered at the White House: ``I am signing this…”

“When President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, he told those gathered at the White House: ``I am signing this reform bill into law on behalf of my mother, who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days.'' In the 13 years since, the ACA has transformed healthcare in America, safeguarding the dignity of the sick, the security of families, and the health of us all. Perhaps nobody has benefited more from the ACA than women. Before the ACA, being a woman was a preexisting condition. Insurance companies were free to deny coverage for no reason other than being pregnant. Today, that kind of discrimination is a relic of the past. Today, women no longer have to pay more than men for insurance. Mr. Speaker, 13 years ago, 90 percent of market plans offered no maternity benefits. Today, they are offered by every single market plan in this country. Thanks to the ACA, every insurance plan empowers women to take control of their health: birth control, annual well-women exams, breast and cervical cancer screenings, breastfeeding support, maternal depression, and much more. What did Republicans have to say about this victory? One called it ``the most dangerous piece of legislation ever passed in Congress.'' Another called it ``downright evil.'' They voted more than 50 times to repeal the ACA. They did everything in their power to put politics over the health of the American people. Thankfully, they failed every single time.…”