(BLACK PR WIRE) (January 19, 2011) WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) firmly supports and stands by President Barack Obama and his Administration with the continuation of the Affordable Health Care Act. The legislation’s enactment represents over sixty years of struggle to finally extend healthcare coverage to tens of millions of Americans, including children, previously without insurance due to age, poverty, employers that do not offer insurance, disability, or pre-existing medical conditions. 

Not only does the Affordable Care Act provide more than 32 million uninsured Americans with healthcare coverage, but it will also reduce the deficit by $130 billion through 2019 and by more than $1 trillion in the subsequent decade. Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in March 2010, the economy has continued to grow and create jobs, signaling a stronger recovery. 

However, recent actions have been taken to attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Congressional Budget Office found that repealing the law would increase the deficit by $230 billion, increase the number of uninsured, and cause more people to pay more for health insurance. 

The NBCSL opposes any attempt to repeal or weaken the Affordable Care Act and ratified a resolution at its Annual Legislative Conference in December of 2010 pledging support and wholehearted implementation of the Act signed into law last year. The NBCSL will vigilantly continue its efforts to ensure the Affordable Care Act is properly implemented so as to provide much-needed relief to Americans. 

NBCSL President, State Representative Barbara W. Ballard (KS) stated, This is not the time to go backwards by repealing the Affordable Care Act, it is the time to press forward and continue the implementation of an Act that finally allows America’s promise to be aligned with its reality. 

The NBCSL is a membership association representing over 600 African American state legislators from 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NBCSL members represent more than 50 million Americans of all racial backgrounds. NBCSL tracks legislation at all levels of government and actively monitors state and federal policy initiatives to provide its members with important information. Each year, NBCSL members pass policy resolutions that directly impact federal and state policy. The organization focuses on U.S. domestic policy and is committed to policies that positively affect all Americans. Learn more at www.nbcsl.org. 

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