ACLU Statement on Failure to Pass AHCA

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives today decided not to vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

American Civil Liberties Union National Political Director Faiz Shakir issued the following statement:

“Democracy triumphed today. President Trump made the best move of his presidency so far by telling Speaker Ryan not to hold a vote on a terrible and unpopular health care repeal bill. Americans made their voices heard loud and clear, and politicians are listening.

“The people have spoken and they said ‘no’ to this dangerous agenda. They said ‘no’ to blocking access to Planned Parenthood, ‘no’ to more restrictions on abortion coverage, ‘no’ to slashing Medicaid and forcing people with disabilities into institutions, and ‘no’ to gutting essential health benefits like maternity and mental health care.

“It’s clear that millions of Americans have embraced progress and do not want to go back. It’s time for Congress and the Trump administration to move on and focus on ideas that actually improve our lives — not those that target vulnerable communities and roll back essential rights for millions of Americans.”

ACLU activists sent 213,733 emails to their representatives in the House and Senate demanding they reject the repeal of the ACA.

The AHCA would have repealed key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including the requirement that plans cover basic services like maternity and mental health care. The repeal bill would also have cut off access to Planned Parenthood, fundamentally restructured the Medicaid program in ways that cause great harm to people with disabilities, and imposed new abortion coverage restrictions, among other issues. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that enacting the legislation would have resulted in 24 million people losing health insurance coverage by 2026 and $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade.