Convening Marked 16^th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act Signed into Law

Press Conference Video (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox)

BOSTON – On the 16^th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) held a critical convening with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and healthcare providers and advocates, faith leaders, and individuals impacted by ACA cuts about how Republicans are ripping away healthcare while pouring money into war and ICE kidnappings.

“Republicans’ manufactured healthcare crisis is making people sicker, poorer, and less safe. Meanwhile Republicans are pouring money in to a war and funding the rogue ICE agents attacking our neighbors,” said Rep. Pressley. “Sixteen years ago, the Affordable Care Act was enacted to address barriers to healthcare and helped people access essential healthcare coverage—and Republicans are rolling back these gains every day by gutting essential programs like Medicaid and forcing families to choose between refilling medications and paying rent. While Trump can somehow find $2 billion a day for war, we’re demanding that he and Republicans put people over profit and support life-saving healthcare. It was an honor to be joined by healthcare providers and advocates, faith and community leaders, and impacted individuals here in the Massachusetts 7^th. We will continue using every tool we have to fight for our neighbors’ health and dignity.”

“In Washington, you can either choose to make policy progress or inflict policy violence. And what Donald Trump and Republicans have been doing is inflicting policy violence on the American people. They have cut healthcare for tens of millions of Americans and can’t seem to find a dime to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Instead, they used that money to give a $75 billion slush fund to fund Donald Trump’s mass deportation machine and are spending billions of dollars a day to drop bombs in a reckless war of choice in the Middle East,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “House Democrats believe that in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, not a single person should go without access to high-quality healthcare. We will continue to emphasize healthcare, not warfare, and make clear for the American people our commitment to push back aggressively against the toxic policy choices that Republicans continue to impose.”

Joining Rep. Pressley and Leader Jeffries at the convening were Rev Willie Bodrick of Twelfth Baptist Church, Rev Mariama White Hammond, Dr. Guy Fish of Codman Health Center, Michael Curry of MA League of Community Health Centers, Dr. Ellana Stintson at Mass General Brigham, Dr. Thea James at Boston Medical Center, John Barros, Cabo Verde community leader and former Chief Equity Officer for Boston, Carolyn Villers, Executive Director of Mass Senior Action and an elder impacted by ACA cuts.

Press conference footage is available here and photos from the event are available here.

Rep. Pressley has been a champion for essential health care coverage and the extension of ACA tax credits. Additionally, as immigrant communities have been under siege by the Trump administration, Rep. Pressley has been a leading voice in pushing back and defending our immigrant neighbors. Rep. Pressley has also condemned Trump’s endless war on Iran, demanding an end to the attacks and killing of U.S. servicemembers and innocent civilians.

• In January 2026, Rep. Pressley applauded Democrats forcing House passage of legislation to extend life-saving Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and protect healthcare for millions. On the House floor, Rep. Pressley implored Republicans to save healthcare for families across the country, including her constituent Deborah, whose family’s monthly payments would double should the ACA tax credits expire.
• In December 2025, in a powerful floor speech, Rep. Pressley condemned Trump and Republicans’ attacks on healthcare and abortion access, and demanded Speaker Johnson bring a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies to the House floor immediately.
• In November 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she assailed the Republican spending bill, which would cause healthcare costs to skyrocket and force families to choose between healthcare and food. Congresswoman Pressley vowed to keep fighting to save healthcare for communities in the Massachusetts 7^th and across the country.
• In November 2025, Rep. Pressley slammed Republicans for harming families across America by shutting down the government, unlawfully cutting food assistance, and jacking up healthcare costs. Congresswoman Pressley also questioned witnesses about the harmful, misleading stereotypes pushed by Republicans about who relies on federal programs like the Affordable Care Act, SNAP, and Medicaid.
• In October 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning Republicans after they chose to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect families and save healthcare for millions.
• Just days into last fall’s government shutdown, Rep. Pressley held an emergency convening in Boston to highlight the harm of the shutdown to MA-07 constituents – federal workers, patients, advocates, and more.
• Just hours before the Republicans shut down the government, Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates, colleagues, and impacted folks to demand Republicans protect healthcare and keep the government open
• Congresswoman Pressley stood in solidarity with workers and families who would be impacted by the government shutdown.
• Rep. Pressley also joined an all-day event with House Democrats to hold the line against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of Americans.

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