Washington, D.C. – At a Ways & Means Committee bill hearing Thursday morning, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-D) spoke out against the Republican repeal bill to replace the Affordable Care Act. At the time of the hearing, the Congressional Budget Office had not yet released any estimate for the cost or impact of the Republican repeal bill. Calling for a delay of the Committee’s vote on the GOP repeal bill, Congresswoman Sewell cited worse coverage standards, increased health expenses for families, and the bill’s unknown price tag and impact as major concerns.

Watch Congresswoman Sewell’s remarks at the Ways & Means Committee bill markup.

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Congresswoman Terri Sewell’s remarks at bill markup:

“Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to invoke the voices of the folks I represent, especially since I can’t go back to them in my next town hall meeting and say that I voted for a proposal that I knew exactly how it would affect them, what full impact it would have on their lives.”

“I think that it’s critically important that we all take the time to get the information. I don’t know why we’re rushing through this tonight when we could come back tomorrow, or better yet, come back next week, when the CBO has given us actual data on cost. It’s really just irresponsible of us to actually continue to debate and now vote on a bill and we don’t know the full impact that it will have on our constituency.”

“So in invoking the voices of the folks in my district, I hope that all of us will take heed that we owe an obligation to the folks back home to make sure that we are doing everything we can to ensure that all Americans have access and coverage. Because there is a difference between access and coverage. But actual coverage for healthcare. This is a wonderful country, and there’s no reason that people should go broke, bankrupt, or do without healthcare.”

Rep. Sewell’s statement following the Committee vote on the Republican health repeal bill is available here.

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.