ACLU Comment on Defeat of Senate Health Care Repeal

WASHINGTON — The Senate today rejected the Health Care Freedom Act, a bill to repeal key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and block patients from care at Planned Parenthood. Republican Senators Susan Collins, John McCain, and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in opposing the legislation.

Faiz Shakir, national political director for the American Civil Liberties Union, had the following reaction:

“The defeat of the Senate health care repeal effort is a victory for Americans and a testament to the power of activism. The communities most directly impacted — women, people with disabilities, and people of color — led the charge with unrelenting direct action. In town halls, rallies, and protests across the country, people declared with one voice that robbing millions of their health insurance is wrong, that blocking millions of patients from seeking care at Planned Parenthood harms public health, and that gutting Medicaid would be disastrous for people with disabilities.

“Senators Susan Collins, John McCain, and Lisa Murkowski deserve our gratitude for listening to the voices of their constituents — but the real heroes last night were untold millions across the country who showed us what democracy looks like. Their activism has inspired all of us, and will be the key to winning on the many fights to come.”

ACLU activists sent 89,601 emails and made over 18,919 calls to Congress on this issue, and attended 536 People Power grassroots events.