Statement Re: Congressional Vote to Repeal the Affordable Care Act

May 4, 2017

“The Republican plan is about slashing care for children, seniors, working families and people with disabilities at the expense of giving a $600 billion tax cut to corporations and the wealthiest Americans,” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham. “It will cut coverage for millions, hurt the ability of healthcare workers to provide quality care, and kill jobs across the country. Passage of this disastrous bill goes beyond the physical and economic health of Americans, and speaks to the moral health of our nation.”

“The kind of healthcare system we have in large part determines the kind of nation we aspire to be. Do we believe that all Americans are connected to and responsible for each other? Or do we abandon our friends, co-workers and neighbors to suffer alone with a chronic disease, heart attack, disability, addiction, cancer scare or car accident and the medical bankruptcy that can result? Healthcare workers will continue to fight this “anti-American” Health Care Act, because we believe that quality affordable healthcare is an inalienable right for all Americans, not just the wealthy few.”

- George Gresham, President
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East