[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4034]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      COMMEMORATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 23, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, later this year, the nation will 
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Medicare, one of the 
most consequential acts of social justice in American history.
  Today, we mark the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the 
Affordable Care Act, which will surely take its place in the pantheon 
of America's greatest laws, alongside the Social Security Act, the GI 
Bill, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  Like those great achievements, the Affordable Care Act, or 
``ObamaCare,'' was vehemently opposed and derided by its adversaries, 
who said it was too costly, would not work, was unnecessary, or would 
change the character of America for the worse.
  Like the critics of Social Security, Medicare, and the GI Bill, all 
of whom are silent now, they are wrong.
  The Affordable Care Act has been an unqualified success.
  This historic legislation has extended affordable health coverage to 
tens of millions of Americans, and has helped to bring peace of mind to 
many of those for whom relief seemed far out of reach.
  The Affordable Care Act was driven by a simple premise: that citizens 
of the most prosperous nation on earth should not be forced to choose 
between their health and their financial security.
  Since the passage of the ACA in 2010, the number of uninsured 
Americans has fallen by nearly one third, or roughly 16 million people.
  These Americans come from all walks of life.
  They are women, who can no longer be denied coverage or be forced to 
pay exorbitant amounts for coverage simply because of their sex.
  They are nine million seniors and people with disabilities, who have 
saved $1,600 each on expensive and lifesaving prescription medication.
  And they are this country's most at risk citizens; people who are 
working hard and struggling make ends meet while living in near-
poverty, and who have been covered by Medicaid expansion in 27 states 
and the District of Columbia.
  These benefits have been felt across the country, especially in my 
home state of Texas.
  In Texas alone:
  10,695,000 individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, 
cancer, or diabetes--including up to 1,632,000 children--will no longer 
have to worry about being denied coverage or charged higher prices 
because of their health status or history.
  4,889,000 uninsured Texans have new health insurance options through 
Medicaid or private health plans in the Marketplace.
  5,198,000 individuals on private insurance have gained coverage for 
at least one free preventive health care service such as a mammogram, 
birth control, or an immunization in 2011 and 2012.
  In the first ten months of 2013, 233,100 seniors and people with 
disabilities saved on average $866 on prescription medications.
  357,000 young adults have gained health insurance because they can 
now stay on their parents' health plans until age 26.
  In addition to the tangible healthcare benefits for millions of 
families, the ACA has had powerful effects on the financial state of 
our nation.
  Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, we have extended the 
solvency of the Medicare Trust fund by more than a decade, and helped 
save taxpayers $116 billion through new Medicare efficiencies.
  The Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that 
hospitals saved more than $5.7 billion in costs that would have 
normally gone unpaid by patients without insurance.
  Contrary to the claims of the law's critics, private insurance 
companies have leapt at the opportunity to compete for business among 
the newly insured, and the healthcare industry has boomed.
  Through all of these successes, however, House Republicans remain 
obsessed with destroying this law, and with unraveling the security it 
provides to millions of Americans.
  With 56 votes to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act, 
Republicans have repeatedly ignored the evidence and failed to suggest 
workable alternatives.
  It is time for Republicans to abandon their fixation and join with us 
in celebrating the health and economic security that this landmark law 
affords every American.

                          ____________________