Las Vegas, Nev. – As the Trump Administration moves full-steam ahead to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in introducing a resolution with 45 colleagues putting in the official Senate record their condemnation of the Administration’s “reckless” effort to rip coverage away from hardworking Americans. The resolution also demands that the Department of Justice (DOJ) defend the existing law in court and halt its efforts to repeal the health care protections for millions – including 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions— in the middle of a public health emergency.
“While this is just one more attempt in a long line of the Trump Administration’s misguided efforts to rip away health coverage from millions of Americans, it is particularly egregious that the DOJ chose to support this lawsuit in the middle of a global pandemic. The Affordable Care Act is playing a bigger role than ever by creating options for workers who may be furloughed or unemployed to enroll in coverage, ensuring that health plans provide comprehensive coverage and ensuring rural hospitals have the resources they need to fight COVID-19 and keep their doors open. Repealing the ACA would be devastating to Nevadans – especially those with preexisting conditions or who have recently recovered from coronavirus – and I’ll continue to fight to ensure Congress bolsters health care protections, rather than tearing them down.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto has been a strong defender of the Affordable Care Act, repeatedly urging Senator McConnell and the Trump Administration to work with Democrats to pass legislation to strengthen the ACA and provide certainty to Nevada families. She recently sent a series of letters to Congressional leadership urging them to include strong provisions to expand access to quality and affordable health coverage in any upcoming COVID-19 relief bill.
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