Washington, DC — On a press call this afternoon, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra along with Protect Our Care discussed the briefs being filed today in the Supreme Court by the House of Representatives and state attorneys general opposing the lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act. On the call, Speaker Pelosi and AG Becerra described the consequences of the lawsuit, which would have a severe impact on Americans particularly in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. Speaker Pelosi and Attorney General Becerra reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the ACA from this lawsuit and ensuring that Americans have access to the care they need at time when they need it most. Oral arguments before the Supreme Court in the case are expected in the fall of 2020.
“The protections of the Affordable Care Act are more important than ever during this time of extraordinary heartbreak, as millions of lives and livelihoods are shattered by the coronavirus crisis,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “President Trump’s doubling-down on the lawsuit to destroy the Affordable Care Act and dismantle every last one of its protections and benefits is an act of staggering cruelty and senselessness that must be defeated. Democrats in Congress and the American people will fight together to Protect Our Care and defend every American’s right to quality, affordable health care during this dark time.”
“In defending the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court, our goal is simple: save affordable healthcare and with it, American lives,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “The Trump administration is choosing to walk away from its obligation to defend our nation’s laws. This is not a moment to abandon Americans who need to know they have the health coverage to protect their families from the coronavirus — or pre-existing conditions, surprise medical bills or junk health insurance. Our coalition of 20 states and DC is in the right place at the right time to protect Americans’ healthcare before the Supreme Court.”
“No issue is more important to Americans today in the middle of the coronavirus crisis than their health care, and yet President Trump is doing everything he can to rip that away from them,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “If the president and his Republican allies are successful in repealing the ACA through this lawsuit, 20 million Americans will lose their health insurance, on top of the millions who have already lost their employer-based insurance during the pandemic. Everyone who contracts the coronavirus could now have a pre-existing condition and be at the mercy of their insurance companies who could refuse to pay for needed care. The submission of briefs today from the House and CA-led states under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and AG Becerra will put the Trump administration’s disastrous lawsuit on full display for the American people. It’s critical that Americans understand just what’s at stake if this outrageous and irresponsible lawsuit succeeds.”