Rep. Engel Comments on House Republicans Not Publicly Releasing ACA Repeal Draft

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y., issued the following statement in response to reports that House Republicans will not publicly release their draft to repeal the Affordable Care Act:

"Earlier this week, we were told that the White House and Congressional Republicans would engage in an open process to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with something, they promised, that would be much better.

"It turns out that their pie-in-the-sky promises aren't limited just to policy, but to process as well. Rather than put their legislation through regular legislative procedures, Republicans have chosen to hide their draft in a basement, away from the eyes of their Democratic colleagues and - most importantly - their constituents.

"What's more, they're gearing up to advance the legislation next week. Not only have they denied Americans the chance to learn more about their plan through even a single substantive hearing - they are ramming it through before the Congressional Budget Office can assess its cost or even the number of Americans it would insure.

"House Democrats held 79 hearings and markups on the ACA, because Americans deserve better than a basement. I urge my Republican colleagues to come out of the shadows and take part in an open process - if not for the sake of transparency, then for the sake of our constituents."

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