Udall Statement on Fifth Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being signed into law:

"Five years ago today, hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans had no access to health insurance. Our state had one of the highest rates of uninsured, and among the highest rates for chronic disease. Many New Mexicans couldn't afford to see a doctor when they or their children got sick. They didn't have access to life-saving cancer screenings. Too many were one serious illness from bankruptcy.

"Five years later, it's clear the Affordable Care Act has been incredibly important to New Mexico. Over 230,000 more New Mexicans now have insurance, and - thanks to the law - health care is one of the strongest parts of our economy. Being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition. Children can stay on their parents' health care policies until they turn 26. And people with pre-existing conditions have protection.

"Most importantly, I hear from New Mexicans regularly about how, thanks to the ACA, they're now getting life-saving care they couldn't afford before.

"The ACA isn't a perfect law. And I'm still working to improve it. But in the years since I voted for it, I know the law is working and making a positive difference in the lives of New Mexicans - and millions of Americans. Over the last five years, Republicans have wasted countless hours that could have been spent improving the ACA - in a fruitless attempt to dismantle it. I hope we can put that to rest and spend the next five years working together on behalf of all Americans to ensure our health care system is the best it can be."