(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser issued the following statement in response to the passage of H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act:
“Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed legislation that has the potential to hurt millions of Americans by taking away their health care coverage. While we don’t know the full estimated impact nationally, nor does Congress, the current proposal will either eliminate or reduce coverage for an estimated 90,000 District residents. We believe the Medicaid changes alone will cost the District between $1.8 and $4 billion in lost federal revenue over the next seven years, including an immediate loss of $53 million in FY2018.
In many states, people with preexisting conditions will be deprived of critical protections established by the Affordable Care Act - protections that guarantee every American affordable, quality health coverage; protections that prevent insurance companies from charging women higher rates than men, or from charging people with medical needs higher rates when they get sick; and protections that ensure every baby born with an illness has health coverage.
In Washington, DC, we uphold the belief that access to safe and affordable health care is not a luxury, it is a necessity. I will continue fighting to ensure that all Washingtonians have access to the health care they need and deserve.”