BOSTON, MA – Statement of Robert Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst, in response to Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) comments today in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania regarding repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

“Meeting today in Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy, congressional Republicans laid out their plan to take health care away from 30 million Americans and raise health costs for millions more. They made it clear they will move forward with their reckless quest to repeal the Affordable Care Act without an immediate, comprehensive replacement. Their claim they will replace ‘portions’ of the law shows that despite having six years to develop a replacement plan, they are still coming up empty.

“Repeal of the ACA without a full and adequate replacement will have disastrous consequences for people, state budgets, our health system and our economy. If President Trump and congressional Republicans continue to move forward with repeal without a replacement, they own the consequences of that action and we will hold them accountable.

“It’s time the president and congressional Republicans listened to the American people who, like the thousands who rallied today in Philadelphia, are making their voices heard across the country to urge their elected officials to protect their health care and work to improve, not destroy, the Affordable Care Act.”

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About Community Catalyst

Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.