Press Releases

Today, Rep. Don Beyer led 45 Members in writing to President Donald Trump urging him to drop his support for Texas, et al v. U.S., et al. Despite the President’s tweet claiming “All Republicans support people with pre-existing conditions, and if they don’t, they will after I speak to them. I am in total support,” the lawsuit would nullify protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act. Until President Trump stops his efforts to undermine protections for pre-existing conditions, he is functionally lying to the American people.

Rep. Beyer also co-led and supported respective letters to the 18 State Attorneys General and 2 Governors leading the lawsuit.

The package of letters re-emphasizes Democrats’ commitment to holding the Trump Administration accountable for their assault on pre-existing condition protections. In addition to the lawsuit, President Trump also vehemently supported the Republican push to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2017, which only failed by a one vote, razor thin margin in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also hinted that Republicans may revisit ACA repeal following the results of the 2018 midterms.

A signed copy of the letter to President Trump follows and can be found here. State specific letters can be found here:

The Honorable Donald J. Trump

President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Trump:

You recently tweeted, “All Republicans support people with pre-existing conditions, and if they don’t, they will after I speak to them. I am in total support.” Congressional leadership has made similar arguments. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “There’s nobody in the Senate that I’m familiar with who is not in favor of coverage of preexisting conditions.”

However, these words do not match the actions of your administration. Your Department of Justice has not only refused to intervene in a lawsuit brought by state attorneys general that would nullify preexisting conditions protections if successful, but also argued in a brief that guaranteeing coverage to people with health conditions and charging them the same rates should be struck down. Will you match your words to your administration’s actions and order the Justice Department to intervene in Texas, et al v. U.S., et al to defend protections for pre-existing conditions? Will you repudiate the brief arguing for the elimination of pre-existing conditions protections?

Sincerely,