Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), whose district includes San Benito County, on March 8 released the following statement in response to the proposed American Health Care Act being put forward by Republicans as they work to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare:

“The Republican replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act would leave millions of Americans uninsured and force millions more to pay higher costs for less coverage. The American Health Care Act will shorten the life of the Medicare Trust, reduce Medicaid, and deny coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions if they do not maintain continuous coverage. This plan will make insurance more expensive and leave hard-working Americans without quality care options.

“The bill attempts to terminate a health care plan that is already protecting so many Americans. Any decision made to alter Americans’ health care cannot be made in haste. The appropriate congressional committees should take their time to properly vet this legislation. Additionally, before this legislation advances, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office must provide a thorough analysis as to who and how many people will be impacted. Americans deserve to know how their health care and lives will be affected by this bill.”