Reform Movement Deeply Opposed to Senate Vote Moving toward Health Care Repeal

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2017

Contact: Max Rosenblum
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org

Press Release from the Religious Action Center

WASHINGTON – In response to the Senate’s vote to proceed with debate to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and wider Reform Movement:

Today’s vote in the Senate to move forward with repeal of the Affordable Care Act is a deeply disturbing step backward for the American health care system. Without hearings, without public input, and without a clear policy, Senators have made their intentions clear: to reverse the enormous progress the ACA has meant for millions of Americans, including over 20 million people who now have insurance thanks to the law. As Americans and as Jews, we are firm in our belief that government has a responsibility to ensure that all people have access to the care they need.

Any legislation to reform the American health care system must be judged by whether it increases access to coverage, decreases costs, and improves quality of care. Every version of repealing and replacing the ACA that has been proposed over the last months fails on each of these tests. As the Senate debates changes to the health care law over the next hours and days, we strongly urge the Senate to preserve access to quality health care and encourage Americans to make their voices heard.

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.