This week, Protect Our Care and partners across the country marked the 9th anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by holding press events with elected officials and health care advocates to highlight the positive impact the ACA has had for millions of Americans. Leaders and storytellers in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio came together to discuss exactly what’s still stake in the ongoing battle against Republican’s continued efforts to repeal the law, and how Democrats in Congress can move forward with their agenda of lower costs and better care for all Americans. Speakers at these events discussed how this agenda will protect people with pre-existing conditions, lower drug costs, end price gouging for everyday drugs like insulin, and make health care more affordable for millions of people.
Throughout the week, Protect Our Care and our state allies held events and penned opinion pieces touting the benefits of the ACA and calling for an end to Republican sabotage. On Thursday, Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ) joined health care storytellers on a press call stating, “Millions of families in New Jersey rely on protections from the Affordable Care Act to ensure they get the coverage they need. Congress should put partisan politics aside and work together to deliver the American people the health care they need and deserve.”
In addition to the press call, Protect Our Care was joined by state delegates and health care advocates at press conferences and rallies in Anchorage, Phoenix, Denver, Cleveland, Atlanta, Des Moines, Augusta, and Raleigh. Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) held a health care town hall with constituents at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Maine. Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) spoke at the event in Atlanta, stating, “The Republicans did everything they could to repeal and there was no replacement. In November of 2018, the people spoke, and we will make sure that excessive repeal does not happen again on our watch.”
In Ohio, the Dayton City Commission, led by Mayor Nan Whaley, passed a resolution affirming support for the Affordable Care Act, stressing the importance of the ACA to Ohioans and criticized constant efforts to repeal or sabotage the law. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) joined the press event in Cleveland saying, “As we recognize the anniversary of the ACA, we must recommit ourselves to fighting any form of health care sabotage – from junk insurance plans to provisions hidden in trade renegotiations that would make prescription drug prices soar. We need to work together to improve health care for all Americans, and not make it harder for them to access the care and medication they need.”
Alaska
Speakers: Valerie Davidson, former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
Susanna Orr, former Commissioner of Health and Social Services
Alaskan health care storyteller who recently lost her husband due to medical complications
Representatives from the Alaska Nurses Association
Representatives Alaska Children’s Trust
Arizona
Press Conference at State Capitol
Speakers: State Rep. Kelli Butler
State Rep. Pam Powers-Hannley
State Rep. Dr. Randy Friese.
Colorado
Rally Outside Senator Gardner’s Office
Speakers: Laura Packard, co-chair Health Care Voter
Representative from ProgressNow Colorado
Representative from Colorado Common Cause
Clip: Steamboat Pilot & Today: Let’s make the Affordable Care Act better by Robin Schepper
Georgia
Speakers: Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-4)
Georgia House Minority Leader Bob Trammell
State Rep. Mary Robichaux
State Rep. Betsy Holland
State Rep. Erick Allen.
Clip: Athens Banner Herald: “On ACA’s 9th Anniversary, threats remain while popularity soars” by State Rep. Spencer Frye
Iowa
Press Conference in Des Moines
Speakers: State Sen. Joe Bolkcom
State Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Sue Dinsdale, Executive Director of Iowa Citizen Action Network
Emily Holley, Des Moines resident
Maine
Health Care Town Hall with Congressman Jared Golden in Farmington, ME
From the town hall: “I’ve been all around the Second District since taking office, meeting Mainers in their communities, listening to them, and finding ways we can work together to get things done for our state,” said Congressman Golden. “I’m looking forward to hearing from folks in Franklin County and discussing solutions that make health care more affordable for everyone in our state.”
Press Conference at State House
Speakers: State Sen. David Miramant
Anne Perry, nurse practitioner and former State Rep.
Clip: WVII (ABC): Nine years since the Affordable Care Act Passed
New Jersey
Press Call with Protect Our Care
Speakers: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-3)
Protect Our Care chair Leslie Dach
Protect Our Care executive director Brad Woodhouse
Little Lobbyists mom Angela Eilers (Yorba Linda, CA)
Health care advocate Laurel Smith (Medford, NJ)
North Carolina
Press Conference at State General Assembly
Speakers: State Rep. Christy Clark
State Rep. Nasif Majeed
State Rep. Evelyn Terry
State Rep. Mary Belk
State Rep. Carolyn Logan
State Rep. Amos Quick
Clip: Spectrum News NC: Press conference marking the upcoming 9th anniversary of #ACA. Speaking about expanding Medicaid under Affordable Care Act.
Ohio
City of Dayton Passed Resolution Reaffirming Support for the Affordable Care Act [WATCH]
On Thursday, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley passed a resolution affirming support for the Affordable Care Act. The Dayton City Commission stressed the importance of the ACA to Ohioans and criticized constant efforts to repeal and sabotage the law.
Speakers: Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9)
Yvonne Oliver, local health care advocate
John Kennedy, Ohioan with a pre-existing condition