Washington, D.C. – Topher Spiro, Vice President for Health Policy for the Center for American Progress, released the following statement responding to the House of Representatives’ postponement of a vote on the American Health Care Act, or AHCA:
The House’s failure to hold a vote on the AHCA as planned tonight is a testament to how harmful this bill would be to the millions of Americans who stand to lose health coverage or face higher costs under it. After months of advocacy by constituents, the message of today’s postponement is clear: The pressure is working. And on the seventh anniversary of the Affordable Care Act’s enactment, it is also a testament to the ACA’s positive legacy, including 20 million Americans who have gained coverage under the law.
Adding insult to injury, a new report by the Congressional Budget Office finds that even after the last-minute addition of a manager’s amendment, the bill would still result in 24 million more Americans being uninsured in 2026 yet would reduce the deficit by less than the previous version. Nevertheless, the House is apparently still considering making the bill even worse by adding provisions to repeal the ACA’s guarantee of essential health benefits, such as mental health coverage and maternity care. Despite its catastrophic projected impact, the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives continues to look for ways to make this bill worse for the American people.
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