Kildee Votes Against Repealing Historic Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) voted against repealing the historic health reform legislation that was signed into law last year. The Congressman said the law must be built upon and improved, not torn down, and that repealing the law would have damaging impacts on families in Michigan’s 5th Congressional district and across the country. Congressman Kildee released the following statement:

“Today, I voted against repealing the historic health care reform legislation because I believe it would take our country backwards and hurt American families.  As I said when we debated this legislation last year, it was not a perfect bill but it was an important step in the right direction. Like many legislative landmarks it will likely require continued updates and improvements to best serve our country. But what we need are thoughtful and conscientious improvements to this law, not a repeal that would bring back a broken health care system that left nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance.

Indeed, repealing the health care reform would have damaging consequences for families and small businesses in my district. Repealing the health care law would allow insurance companies to once again deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, affecting up to an estimated 278,000 individuals in my district, including 37,000 children. It would eliminate health care tax credits for up to 11,700 small businesses and increase prescription drug costs for 7,100 seniors who hit the “donut hole.”

That is why groups like AARP, AFSCME, the American Heart Association, the United Autoworkers and the Catholic Health Association have all come out against this repeal. So let’s join together and come up with ways to improve this law, not tear down what has already done much good for thousands of American families. I look forward to continuing that work.”