BOSTON, MA — Robert Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst, has denounced the House of Representative’s passage of a budget resolution to pave the way for repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“Congressional Republicans have had six years to come up with a viable replacement for the Affordable Care Act, but they have failed to produce anything other than political promises. Americans want more than empty promises. After today’s consequential vote in the House of Representatives, congressional Republicans are going to have to answer to people like Jeff Jeans, an Arizona native who has cancer and credits the ACA with saving his life.

“‘Being both a small business person and someone with pre-existing conditions, I rely on the Affordable Care Act to be able to purchase my own insurance. Why would you repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement?’ Jeans asked House Speaker Paul Ryan at yesterday’s CNN town hall event. This question goes to the heart of what congressional Republicans need to answer in the wake of their vote today to rush forward with their irresponsible plan to repeal the ACA with no replacement.

“Congressional Republicans’ ‘repeal and delay’ plan, which is opposed by two-thirds of Americans, could cause millions of working families to lose health coverage, hike taxes on people who purchase their own health insurance while handing the wealthy a massive tax cut, increase unemployment and put an enormous strain on state budgets.

“Before Congress votes to take away their health care, Americans like Jeff Jeans want proof that any replacement plan will provide more affordable and meaningful care, coverage, and consumer protections than the current law provides.

“We will continue to push members of Congress to listen to their constituents and put people’s health and financial security ahead of tax cuts for the wealthiest households and corporations.”

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.