CHA and members of numerous organizations that support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gathered on Capitol Hill Jan. 19 to urge lawmakers not to repeal the health reform law. Not yet one year old, the law has already significantly expanded access to health care, especially for vulnerable populations including children with preexisting conditions who can no longer be denied coverage on that basis, leaders of the organizations said.
"We cannot afford to turn back the clock on the valuable provisions in this law," said Michael Rodgers, shown here speaking at the group's press conference in the Capitol Visitor Center. Rodgers, CHA's senior vice president of advocacy and public policy, added, "We urge members of the House to support and implement this historic law."
"Repealing the law would be a devastating step backward," said Marla J. Weston, chief executive of the American Nurses Association.
Later that day, the Republican-controlled House approved H.R.2, the bill that would repeal the health reform law. Senate Democrats, who control that chamber, said they will not bring the repeal bill up for consideration. House Republican leaders said they now will try to withhold money to implement health reform.