WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after House passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act:
“The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act passed in the House today strengthens the Affordable Care Act and stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the Trump Administration. Just last week, President Trump asked the Supreme Court to gut the protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act, putting millions of Americans at risk in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This reckless move from the Trump Administration would impact 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and take coverage away from 23 million Americans leaving them without care in the middle of this pandemic. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act will not only protect that coverage, but it will also significantly increase subsidies for low and middle-income families, combat inequities in health coverage for communities of color, push hold-out states to adopt Medicaid expansion, permit DACA recipients to enroll and receive financial assistance in the ACA marketplaces, and direct the negotiation of prescription drug prices to lower costs for consumers.
“The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act is an important step in lowering the cost of health care. We must continue to advance legislation and policies to ensure every American can get the health care they need.”
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