Responding to Trump Administration’s Effort to Strike Down ACA, Shaheen Leads Resolution to Save Pre-Existing Condition Protections & Health Care For Millions

**The Trump DOJ Recently Announced it Will Side With A Texas Federal Judge’s Ruling That Deems Current Health Care Law Unconstitutional— Shaheen’s Resolution Would Reverse DOJ’s Position, Siding With Keeping Current Health Care Law Intact**

**Shaheen’s Resolution Comes on the Heels of Health Care Affordability Package to Help Stabilize Marketplace, Lower Premiums for Middle-Class Families & Combat Escalating Out-Of-Pocket Health Care Costs**

(Washington, DC)—  U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led all 47 Senate Democrats today on a Senate resolution that would reverse the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent decision to side with U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor’s ruling that deems health care protections enjoyed by millions of Americans unconstitutional.

This latest act of health care sabotage from the Trump administration could result in 133 million Americans losing protections for pre-existing conditions, millions more Americans without health insurance, soaring prescription drug spending for seniors, and as many as 118,000 Granite Staters losing health care coverage. After Congressional Republicans zeroed out the tax for failure to meet the ACA’s health insurance coverage requirement in their partisan tax legislation, the State of Texas challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act in the Texas vs. United States lawsuit. Instead of defending the law and its vital health care protections, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice chose to side with Texas and the states challenging our health care law last summer, arguing that pre-existing condition protections are unconstitutional. Late last year, U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor sided with Texas and ruled to strike down the entire current health care law. Now, the DOJ has expanded its position, arguing on the side of Judge O’Connor that the entire Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

The resolution introduced by Shaheen and cosponsored by all 47 Senate Democrats outlines the dire consequences of this politically-motivated action for hard-working American families and proclaims the DOJ’s decision must be reversed.

“The administration’s assault on Americans’ health care cannot go unanswered, which is why today I’m introducing a resolution that calls on the Department of Justice to reverse its position in the Texas v. United States lawsuit. Ensuring the health and safety of the American people should transcend politics. I am urging Republicans to support this resolution and work with Democrats to fix our health care law – not repeal it,” said Senator Shaheen. “Congress cannot sit idly by while the President tries to strip their constituents of their health care coverage -- it’s time for Republicans to join Democrats to protect Americans’ care and improve the system.”

Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX) introduced a similar resolution in the House of Representatives, which will be considered later today.

Shaheen’s resolution comes on the heels of her health care affordability package, which she announced yesterday. Shaheen’s health care affordability package includes three pieces of legislation that would reduce health care costs for patients and expand access to critical medical services. Together, the Marketplace Certainty Act, Improving Health Insurance Affordability Act and Reducing Costs for Out-of-Network Services Act would make essential reforms to the health care law that would help stabilize the marketplace, lower premiums for middle-class families and combat escalating out-of-pocket health care costs. 

Senator Shaheen has led efforts in the Senate to stabilize the health insurance markets and make health care affordable and accessible for all Americans. She introduced the Marketing and Outreach Restoration to Empower (MORE) Health Education Act of 2019 with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) to counteract Trump administration sabotage efforts that have slashed health care enrollment advertising and marketing by 90 percent since the President took office. She also introduced the Protecting Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Act with Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to prevent the Trump administration from using federal premium tax credits to  promote and incentivize enrollment in “junk plans” that do not provide coverage of pre-existing conditions or essential health benefits.