Bennet, Colleagues Urge Republicans to Work on Fixes to Affordable Care Act Before Rushing to Repeal

Statement

Today Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined 12 senators urging Republican Congressional leadership to discuss improvements to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) before rushing to repeal the law through a fast-track process that would lead to the loss of health care for 30 million Americans.

"We can't go back to the days when people could not receive health insurance because of pre-existing conditions, or were kicked off their health plan when they got sick." Bennet said. "However, there is no such thing as a perfect law and we are committed to working on policies that make our health care system work better for families in Colorado and across the country."

In the letter, sent to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Health Education Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, and Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, the senators highlighted the need for common-sense fixes to the ACA, but stressed that a repeal and delay approach would result in an overwhelming burden on consumers, states, and health care providers.

"We know there is more to do to improve the health care system in our country and agree that there are serious challenges that must be addressed," the Senators wrote. "We have supported commonsense changes and improvements to the Affordable Care Act to ensure affordability and access for more Americans and have been ready and willing to work with anyone to improve the existing law for our constituents."

"We remain committed to improving the ACA, and we urge you to work with us now-to increase affordability for families, protect communities, help small businesses, and continue important protections for the most vulnerable," the Senators continued. "But by pushing an immediate repeal through a partisan reconciliation process, we won't have the opportunity to work together and build on common ground. By moving forward with no plan in place for the future of our health care system, those who support repeal assume the responsibility of mitigating the unnecessary and avoidable chaos this will create."

In addition to Bennet, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Mark Warner (D-Virginia), Christopher Coons (D-Delaware), Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Tom Carper (D-Delaware), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), and Margaret Wood Hassan (D-New Hampshire).

Source