WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement after his vote against the Republican American Health Care Act (AHCA):
“Today, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and President Trump have turned their backs on the American people and the people of Connecticut. The bill passed today gives an enormous tax cut to the wealthiest Americans by making insurance much harder, or even impossible, to get for poor or sick individuals or families, and making whatever insurance may be available to them worse. If this bill were to become law, we would see an estimated 24 million Americans, possibly many more, thrown off their insurance. Americans will live sicker. Americans will die sooner.
“I believe that we are not a cruel country – that we are fundamentally generous and empathetic. Today’s tragic vote makes it very clear that a bipartisan solution is the only way to actually improve our healthcare system. I stand ready to work to make these improvements to the ACA and put forward policy solutions that will benefit the health of our families. This is a sad day for all of us, but we will turn that sadness into action, not give in to despair.”