March 23, 2023

Rep. Tokuda Gives Speech at Democratic Leadership Conference on Anniversary of Affordable Care Act

(Washington, DC) – Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined House Democratic Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu for a press conference with Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04) to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Tokuda covered Hawaiʻi’s Prepaid Health Care Act, which passed in 1974, guaranteeing employer-sponsored health coverage for most employees in Hawaiʻi that helped pave the way for the ACA. Today, Hawaiʻi has one of the lowest uninsured rates and remains among the healthiest in the nation.

A video of Rep. Tokuda’s remarks can be viewed here.

Tokuda’s remarks as written:

“Thank you, Glenn, and thanks for calling me out on the fact that I'm still six hours behind right now, but who’s keeping track? Thank you again for including me in this press conference. And it's hard to follow Glenn’s story, but it is truly a testament that his story, unfortunately, is not unique. There are so many Americans across this country that, had it not been for that health care coverage they received through the Affordable Care Act, could likely not live to see another day. And so today is truly important. They often say about Hawai‘i, ‘Lucky you live Hawai‘i, right? And they're not just talking about the wonderful people, the beautiful beaches, the great food. It really comes down, in my humble opinion, to the fact that we prioritize health care. Hawaii is about being healthy and taking care of our people like family. 

Nearly forty years ago before the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, Hawai‘i became the first state in the country to set minimum health standards and coverage for workers. The Prepaid Health Care Act, which some of you may be familiar with, passed in 1974 and guaranteed employer-sponsored health coverage for most employees in Hawaii and capping their premiums at 1.5% of their pay. I served in the Hawai‘i State Senate for twelve years. I walked door to door to countless people, and I will tell you that there's not many people who don't know about the Prepaid Health Care Act in Hawaii. They credit it with the fact that in many cases it has saved their lives, kept them healthy. In many ways, our Prepaid Health Care Act was the ACA before the ACA. And on March 23rd of 2010, the rest of the country finally caught up with Hawai‘i and figured out something we knew all along: health care matters. Taking care of our people like family, it matters, and the enactment of the ACA put in place comprehensive reforms that have since made health care affordable, it has prohibited insurers from discriminating against people with preexisting health conditions and ensured women are guaranteed essential services. Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act was enacted nearly half a century ago. And today, we have some of the lowest uninsured rates in the country with under 4% uninsured in Hawai‘i, and we remain one of the healthiest states, happiest states in the country as well.  At the same time, I will tell you, representing a district that is 96% rural, and we’ve got some of the most challenged communities in the country, health care still is an issue. But what we know when we sit down at tables together and talk about is that the ACA has, and will continue to, make a difference in their ability to access care and coverage. 

I once sat down in a park on Lāna‘i and an old man told me, ‘it's really difficult to be born and to die here.’ And when we talked more about what we could do together to make it a place where they could really call this home for themselves and their children, it became evident that through the Affordable Care Act provisions and what we are doing here in Congress, we would be able to make sure that generations of Hawai‘i residents, residents across this country, can rely on the care that they need to really see a life for themselves in their communities and this country. Knowing what we know about Hawai‘i's example and forty years ago what we did through the Prepaid Health Care Act and the results that it's had on our community, let's just imagine what this country could look like in forty years. How many millions more Americans will live longer, healthier, and happier lives. And all because comprehensive health care reforms we made thirteen years ago with the enactment of the ACA are continuing to be fought for and possible. So, thank you for including me in this conversation, and we look forward to many more years of the ACA. Mahalo.”  

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