Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar joined members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to warn House Republicans of the ramifications of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“We’ll go back to the days when people were denied coverage for having pre-existing conditions, where preventative screenings weren’t covered and when simply being a woman was a pre-existing condition. That’s shameful. It is unforgivable that House Republicans would choose to go back to that,” said Rep. Aguilar. He continued, “In my community of San Bernardino County, 67 percent of health care recipients are from communities of color…House Republicans have viciously and mercilessly argued against strengthening the ACA because they claim to know better. It’s been over six years – what’s your plan?”

According to Health Access California, repealing the Affordable Care Act without replacing it would cause an estimated 20 billion dollar loss to California health care. Recent data shows that nearly 40,000 residents in California’s 31^st Congressional district and approximately five million throughout California have enrolled in Covered California since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. Additionally, nearly 200,000 San Bernardino County residents and over 80,000 people in California’s 31^st Congressional District now receive health care through Medi-Cal since the ACA expansion.

Rep. Aguilar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He is committed to working with House Democrats and Republicans to improve the Affordable Care Act so it works for all Americans.