Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) criticized the Republican healthcare repeal bill after an updated analysis from the Congressional Budget Office showed that it would leave 23 million more Americans without coverage and be paid for on the backs of working families, seniors, and veterans.

Between 2013 and 2015, 429,000 veterans gained health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, reducing the rate of uninsured veterans by 40%. About 340,000 of these veterans are covered under the Medicaid expansion and would be at risk of losing their coverage under the Republican repeal bill. 183,000 veterans in California alone are covered under Medicaid, and could be effected by the bill’s proposed $880 billion cut to federal Medicaid spending. In their current form, the tax credits in the plan would be unusable for a number of veterans who qualify for care through the VA.

Rep. Peters released the following statement:

“The Republican healthcare repeal bill puts a huge burden on the backs of working families and seniors to pave the way for a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. Instead of fixing what isn’t working in our healthcare system, this bill would make it worse: destabilizing insurance markets in some parts of the country, putting health insurance out of the reach of many Americans with pre-existing conditions, and even weakening employer-based plans in states that waive essential health benefits.

“In San Diego, this bill would be particularly hard on our veterans. The drastic cuts to Medicaid would rip the rug out from under thousands of veterans and their families who depend on the program for healthcare. Many veterans aren’t even eligible for the tax credits in this plan, which would make it more difficult for them to afford coverage. Our veterans have earned better than this.

“When you have a healthcare plan that would lead to 23 million fewer Americans having health insurance, is opposed by hospitals, doctors, and nurses, and throws our seniors, veterans, and working families out in the cold, it’s pretty clear that you need to go back to the drawing board. I’m ready to get to work with everyone – Republicans and Democrats – on a real plan to fix our healthcare system.”