Rep. Robin Kelly voted against the Patient's Rights Repeal Act.
(Credit: CSPAN)
Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), a Democrat,
voted yesterday to uphold Obamacare and protect Illinois’ working families, women and seniors by voting against the Patients’ Rights Repeal Act, which marks the 37th effort of the Tea Party-led House Republicans to derail the law. On Thursday, the Tea Party-led Republican House of Representatives voted for the 37th time to repeal Obamacare, with a 229-195 vote in favor of axing the legislation. All 227 Republican voted for repeal and two Democrats voted against party lines: Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.).
Rep. Robin Kelly said of her vote, “Today, I voted to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to children with preexisting conditions or dropping women when they become pregnant. The Affordable Care Act provides vital benefits like cheaper prescriptions for seniors and must be upheld so that Illinois families have access to the health coverage they deserve.”
The Republican-backed law would have denied 1.3 million uninsured Illinois residents health coverage and put roughly 4.7 million Illinoisans with chronic illnesses – including 1.2 million children – at risk of losing their insurance due to lifetime limits on coverage.
Among its provisions, the Affordable Care Act provides for free preventative health services, including colonoscopies, mammograms, well-child visits and flu shots for children and adults. The act also allows children under the age of 26 without employer coverage to stay on their family coverage. As of December 2011, 125,000 young adults in Illinois gained coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Congresswoman Kelly is committed to protecting the Affordable Care Act and preserving healthcare coverage for Illinois families.
House Democrats spoke out against the Republican plan yesterday that would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Rosa Luisa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and other Democratic House colleagues addressed a press conference on Wednesday to speak out against the vote to repeal PPACA (H.R. 45) and the impact repeal will have on women and children.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi said that "House Republicans will take their 37th vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, costing $52.4 million and creating no jobs." Pelosi added that "it's not only a vote that's a waste of time. It's a vote to take away affordable quality benefits that the American people are enjoying right now."
Rep. Robin Kelly also addressed the press conference talking about not only the impact on women and children, but the impact on seniors.
"Thank you Leader Pelosi and Congresswoman DeLauro and my other colleagues standing here today." Rep. Robin Kelly was to the point and of the impact of repeal on Illinois' 2nd Congressional district. "In my district, many seniors, most of which are women, face a tough choice every day: Should they buy food or should they get their prescription medication. For them, it’s an either or proposition because the recession’s one-two punch of dwindled retirement savings and evaporated home equity has left many without enough money to make ends meet."
Rep. Kelly added that in the Illinois' 2nd Congressional district at the "Rich Township Food Pantry in my district, hundreds of seniors come in for help, some of whom have just $11 a month for food and are having to dip into their medicine money just to eat."
Rep. Kelly pointed out the choices that everyday people are forced to make and the benefit of the PPACA on their lives. "The Affordable Care Act is designed to keep seniors from having to make that choice by reducing prescription drug costs. Last year alone, the average senior saved more than $700. The important legislation also provides free Medicare coverage for key preventative services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies to help our seniors catch problems early and stay healthy longer. It also provides a free annual wellness visit under Medicare."
Rep. Kelly added that "speaking of Medicare, the Affordable Care Act strengthens it with reforms that extend the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund and root out waste and fraud."
Rep. Kelly ended her statement by calling the "Republican bill is really an assault on seniors and women. We must work to ensure that seniors have the medical care they need and the dignity and security they deserve."
The vote will come on the floor of the House of Representatives was in favor of the repeal along party lines. The measure is not expected to pass in the United States Senate and President Obama said he would veto the legislation.
The Obama Administration issued a statement earlier on Wednesday opposing the repeal. "The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 45 because it would cost millions of hard‑working middle class families the security of affordable health coverage and care they deserve. It would increase the deficit and detract from the work the Congress needs to do to focus on the economy and create jobs."
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John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns.