The U.S. Senate voted early this morning to approve a budget resolution that represents a major step in Republicans' efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have promised to continue toward a budget reconciliation bill that will gut the ACA before the end of January.
The following is a statement from Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition:
"We strongly condemn Republicans' ill-advised efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. This initial vote moves us down a dangerous path that threatens the health coverage of immigrants and citizens in New York and across the country. While the Affordable Care Act unfairly excluded some immigrants, it nonetheless enhanced coverage options and the quality of coverage for many immigrant New Yorkers. One-third of noncitizen New Yorkers are uninsured, and repealing the Affordable Care Act will only exacerbate the problem.
"At a time when we should be focusing on improving and expanding health care options for immigrants, we find ourselves fighting to protect what we already have from irresponsible Republicans blindly marching our health care system toward the precipice. We urge our New York Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to continue to vigorously oppose efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act."
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The New York Immigration Coalition is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for nearly 200 groups in New York State that work with immigrants and refugees.The NYIC aims to achieve a fairer and more just society that values the contributions of immigrants and extends opportunity to all by promoting immigrants’ full civic participation, fostering their leadership, and providing a unified voice and a vehicle for collective action for New York’s diverse immigrant communities.