“Repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a mistake and would throw away the meaningful progress we have made towards increasing the quality and accessibility of affordable health care. There is undoubtedly much work still to be done to improve our nation’s health care system but I strongly disagree with Republicans’ continued efforts to repeal the law, and their attempt to eliminate essential health benefits for Americans and their families.

“Republicans’ plans to repeal key benefits of the ACA in order to fulfill a flawed campaign promise would sacrifice the health and wellbeing of low-income, working, and older Americans, at the benefit of those who are wealthier.  Today’s failed attempt at a vote, fueled by deep discord within the Republican caucus, shows their disturbing disconnect with the needs of the American people and with the realities and responsibilities of governing.

“Health care policy is extraordinarily complex and difficult. It is never easy for the simple reason that demand for health care services is far more than the amount of money available to pay for it. Voting for the ACA was not an easy vote seven years ago.  However, at the end of the day, supporting expanded access to health insurance for over 22 million people and voting to get rid of barriers that kept health care out of the reach of many working Americans was important enough to take that difficult vote and make the situation better. The American people deserve health care that is affordable and accessible to everyone.

“Today laid bare that, for the last seven years, the Republicans have done little to develop a viable alternative to the ACA and have no clear plan to improve health care policy. They made up claims and misled Americans, all the while pretending they had the answer on health care. Today, by making their voices heard, the American people called Republicans’ bluff.

“I hope that we can now come together and begin to work to improve health care policy for all.”