March 23, 2020

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Marks 10th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Calls on Trump Administration to End ACA Lawsuit

OAKLAND, CA – Today, on the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Congresswoman Lee called on the Trump Administration to end its Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, which would strike down the entirety of the ACA, as well as pre-existing condition protections for 130 million Americans, including more than 6 million Californians, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“For a decade, Democrats have stood strong against the GOP’s all-out assault on the health and financial security of hard-working families,” said Congresswoman Lee. “As our nation faces the unprecedented coronavirus crisis, the Republicans’ continued effort to eliminate the lifesaving protections of the ACA poses a devastating threat to the East Bay, California, and the entire country. At this time of uncertainty, everyone deserves to know that they will receive the critical medical care they need to stay healthy and safe. That’s why I’m proud to join Congresswoman Schakowsky and more than 120 Democrats in sending a letter to Trump, calling on him to end the lawsuit that seeks to end the ACA. 

“Since becoming law in 2010, the ACA has become a pillar of health and economic stability for millions of Americans.  It has protected millions of people with pre-existing conditions, lowered drug costs for people on Medicare, and dramatically reduced the uninsured population. If the Trump Administration’s outrageous lawsuit is successful in gutting the ACA, families across the nation would face staggering consequences.

“On day one of this Congress, House Democrats voted to throw the full legal weight of the House of Representatives into the fight against this lawsuit and to protect and strengthen Americans’ health care. Now, during the coronavirus pandemic, House Democrats are using every tool and resource available to safeguard and expand the ACA’s vital protections to put Families First. Today, and every day, Democrats will uphold the bedrock promise that health care is right, not a privilege, for all.” 

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