Washington, DC — Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) to protect the Affordable Care Act (ACA) from attacks by President Trump and elected Republicans across the country in the middle of a pandemic. As part of the appropriations process, Rep. Underwood’s amendment prohibits the Department of Justice from using funds to undermine the ACA, including its effort to completely overturn the law in California v. Texas, which will be heard in the Supreme Court’s upcoming term. Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement in response:
“House Republicans have voted to endorse President Trump’s lawsuit to completely overturn the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the coronavirus epidemic. They voted to support taking away health care from 23 million Americans and protections for pre-existing conditions for 135 million, including every American who had or will have Covid-19. As Americans face the worst public health crisis in a century, House Republicans voted against the health and economic security of America. They learned nothing from their defeat in 2018, and instead chose to double down on a cruel and unpopular strategy. Thankfully, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, House Democrats are fighting to protect our care by passing this amendment put forth by Representative Underwood.”