Pelosi Statement on 14th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released this statement marking the 14th anniversary of President Obama signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010:

“Fourteen years ago, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: a glorious step forward for the health and financial security of America’s families.  Today, we feel the landmark law’s life-changing and life-saving impacts: protecting 150 million Americans living with pre-existing conditions, expanding access to affordable coverage and free preventative care, ending lifetime caps on coverage, helping young adults stay on family plans, ensuring that being a woman is no longer a preexisting condition, and so much more.

“Under President Biden, we’ve made health care more accessible than ever by strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act.  Just this year, a record-shattering 21.3 million Americans have enrolled in an affordable plan on ACA exchanges.  At the same time, we are driving down the costs of prescription drugs, including by capping the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 a month and empowering Medicare to negotiate for lower medication prices.

“We were able to pass, protect and strengthen the ACA because of the outside mobilization: the grassroots supporters who showed up, told their stories and made a difference.  Now, we must again come together to protect our care.

“Shamefully, as we mark this anniversary, Republicans are plotting once again to gut the ACA and reverse our lower prescription drug costs.  President Biden and Congressional Democrats will not let this happen.  Our work continues as we strive to honor this fundamental truth: health care is a right for all, not a privilege for the few.”