Congresswoman Johnson Highlights New Report: Latest GOP ACA Repeal Effort Attacks Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions, Will Devastate 6 Million Women and Girls in Texas

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release:

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson responded to a new report which indicates that Republicans' attempts to undermine key provisions of the Affordable Care Act would be devastating to 6,069,000 women and girls in Texas who live with pre-existing conditions. These new efforts would restore the ability of insurance companies to charge women with pre-existing conditions more for limited coverage plans or deny them health care altogether.

"Months after Texas families defeated multiple efforts by Republicans to repeal the ACA without any real plan to replace it, the Trump Administration and Republican officeholders throughout the country are now reviving attacks on Americans with pre-existing conditions by urging the federal courts to declare the protections for people with pre-existing conditions unconstitutional," said Congresswoman Johnson. "This spiteful policy would return our country to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against people struggling with mental health needs, asthma, diabetes and cancer. Under the Republicans' agenda, a baby or a young girl from Texas could be deprived of affordable health care her entire life, just for being born with a health condition she cannot control."

According to a new report from the Center for American Progress, the Republican efforts to eliminate protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions:

Threaten the health care and financial stability of 68 million women across America - a full half of our nation's women and girls;

Force 6,069,000 women and girls in Texas, including 534,000 pregnant women, to pay more for insurance or be denied coverage outright.

"From the first day of this administration, Republicans in the White House and Congress have targeted the health care and the rights of women," said Congresswoman Johnson. "As the first nurse elected to Congress, I am proud to stand with Texas women and their families to fight these obscene attacks on their quality, affordable coverage and to ensure that they have access to the health care they need."

"Months after Texas families defeated multiple efforts by Republicans to repeal the ACA without any real plan to replace it, the Trump Administration and Republican officeholders throughout the country are now reviving attacks on Americans with pre-existing conditions by urging the federal courts to declare the protections for people with pre-existing conditions unconstitutional," said Congresswoman Johnson. "This spiteful policy would return our country to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against people struggling with mental health needs, asthma, diabetes and cancer. Under the Republicans' agenda, a baby or a young girl from Texas could be deprived of affordable health care her entire life, just for being born with a health condition she cannot control."

According to a new report from the Center for American Progress, the Republican efforts to eliminate protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions:

Threaten the health care and financial stability of 68 million women across America - a full half of our nation's women and girls;

Force 6,069,000 women and girls in Texas, including 534,000 pregnant women, to pay more for insurance or be denied coverage outright.

"From the first day of this administration, Republicans in the White House and Congress have targeted the health care and the rights of women," said Congresswoman Johnson. "As the first nurse elected to Congress, I am proud to stand with Texas women and their families to fight these obscene attacks on their quality, affordable coverage and to ensure that they have access to the health care they need."