DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement celebrating the anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare:

“On July 30, 1965, President Johnson signed Medicaid and Medicare into law, bringing health care within reach for millions of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens. More than half a century later, Medicaid and Medicare have become critical pillars of economic security for American families.

“President Obama and Democrats sought to strengthen these programs through the Affordable Care Act. And over the past seven years, the ACA has expanded Medicaid programs across the country while providing access to more preventative services and lower drug costs to millions of Medicare recipients. But today, Medicaid and Medicare are under relentless attack. For months, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Republicans in Congress have tried to pass legislation that would repeal the ACA’s protections, gut Medicaid, and send premiums skyrocketing.

“Medicaid and Medicare embody the American people’s belief that health care is a right for all people. And just a Democratic president signed these programs into law, the Democratic Party will continue to defend and strengthen them at every turn.”