FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In the early hours of Thursday morning, the U.S. Senate approved a budget resolution, the first step in the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Also this week, Senator Brown (D-OH) introduced an amendment to protect comprehensive, affordable coverage for children, and Senator Baldwin (D-WI) introduced an amendment to preserve health coverage for young adults until the age of 26, including former foster youth who age out of state care. Both failed to be adopted. The House is expected to take up the measure today

First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley issued the following statement:

“We applaud the efforts of the bipartisan Members who voted this week to protect children’s coverage as the Senate moved legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It is critical that Congress adopt a ‘do no harm’ policy towards our nation’s children and youth, especially at a time when the numbers of uninsured children have fallen to record lows. We urge Members of Congress to oppose any efforts that could dismantle programs like Medicaid and CHIP that are working well for children and take coverage away from youth transitioning into adulthood. The ACA repeal would be a major step backward for the health of America’s children.”