Reid marks third anniversary of healthcare law

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) acknowledged the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law.

“Three years ago, President Barack Obama signed into law the greatest single step in generations toward ensuring access to quality, affordable healthcare for every American — the Affordable Care Act,” Reid said Thursday morning on the Senate floor.

Reid listed how people benefit from the healthcare law, including students staying on their parent’s plans until age 26 and seniors saving on prescription drug costs.

“But health reform is not only saving money — it’s saving lives,” Reid said. “And I am proud that this law, which we worked so hard to pass, is already ensuring the care of human life remains the first object of this government.”

But Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) marked the event differently, saying that the Affordable Care Act is “endangering the greatest healthcare system.”

“We had no ability to write this healthcare bill,” Sessions said. “We didn’t know enough about it.

“We are endangering the greatest healthcare system the world has ever known. ... This is just one example of what happens in this country when people in Washington have the arrogant view that they can fix everything in this country.”

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