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The AHCA was rushed through the House so quickly that many representatives admitted they had not taken the time to read the bill before voting for it. The group of concerned citizens behind the Read AHCA action and Die-In contend that it is unconscionable for U.S. representatives to support a bill that affects a fifth of the U.S. economy, and millions of Americans, without reading it. Their intent is to promote awareness and education about the substance of the AHCA and its potential impact.
Confirmed speakers include: U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-2); P.A. Rep. Chris Rabb (Dist. 200); Dr. Marc Stier, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center; Dr. Allan Arbeter, former Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; and Max Ray-Riek of ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) of Philadelphia.
This event is scheduled for Sunday, June 4th at 2:30 p.m. outside of the U.S. Customs House, 200 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The building also houses Senator Toomey’s Philadelphia office.
To learn more about Read AHCA and participate, visit readahca.com.
Senator Toomey is one of 13 Congressional Republicans charged with writing the Senate version of the AHCA. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office analysis of the current GOP healthcare plan shows that 23 million Americans would lose coverage in the next decade. The bill hurts kids, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income Pennsylvanians through devastating and permanent cuts to Medicaid.
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid provides 3 out of 5 seniors in nursing homes, 2 out of 5 kids, and covers 1 out of 2 individuals with a disability. The AHCA would effectively end Medicaid Expansion for 718,000 Pennsylvanians by cutting funding to the program. Senator Toomey appears determined to worsen this damage by cutting Medicaid even more than the health care bill passed in the U.S. House.
The Read AHCA and Die-In event is scheduled on June 4th because it is the last day of the Senator’s Congressional Recess. It is also the kickoff for an online action, with participants uploading videos of themselves reading relevant sections of the AHCA and explaining how the bill will personally impact them. These videos will be posted on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube with the hashtag #ReadAHCA and the relevant section (i.e., #AHCA135).
To learn more about the Read AHCA event and participate, visit readahca.com. Concerned citizens can also follow Read AHCA on Twitter and Facebook at using the handle ReadAHCA.
Release ID: 204328