[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H402-H403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LET'S NOT REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
(Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire asked and was given permission to
address the House for 1 minute.)
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about
the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and what it would mean for
Americans struggling with debilitating diseases.
Prior to the ACA, the struggle of a debilitating illness like
Alzheimer's or cancer could be compounded because of the financial
burden from lack of affordable health care. Imagine being denied
necessary health care because you or a loved one suffered from a
preexisting condition. These are the concerns that I am hearing from
constituents across the Granite State.
Take Sally from West Chesterfield. Her daughter has Crohn's disease,
and she is on their family plan because she is under age 26. She will
always need access to health care because of her condition, and if the
Affordable Care Act is repealed and not replaced, she could lose
coverage because of her preexisting condition. These concerns are all
too commonplace.
I agree the ACA is not perfect, and I am committed to working in a
bipartisan way to ensure the law will work
[[Page H403]]
for all Americans. But in the meantime, the ACA is helping 22 million
Americans, including 1 in every 10 Granite Staters. We should build on
those successes.
I urge my colleagues on the Republican side to resist the temptation
to repeal the law, especially without a plan that ensures affordable
coverage for all Americans.
____________________