Statement of Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East:

“Last night’s victory affirmed the power that working people have when we organize to demand that our elected leaders put the needs of ordinary Americans above special interests. The GOP healthcare repeal bill, whether passed in its “skinny” or another form, would have decimated care for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans and reversed years of hard-won, historic improvements to our nation’s healthcare system.

“This is a victory for all Americans, but it is especially a victory of, by, and for women. Eighty-five percent of our nation’s female Senators voted last night to save the Affordable Care Act. Without their courageous leadership—from both sides of the aisle—today would have been a dark day for our country.

“While today we celebrate, we know that the fight to protect healthcare for millions of people is far from over. We must vehemently oppose every attempt by extremist politicians in Washington to destabilize our healthcare system, and insist that our elected leaders take every necessary step to ensure that Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare.”


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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New Jersey and nationwide. We represent over 16,000 healthcare families in New Jersey and over 400,000 total members throughout New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.