Rep. Castor Issues Statement on Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Florida, issued the following statement after the Trump administration argued in a court brief that the Affordable Care Act's protections for preexisting conditions should be ruled unconstitutional:

"Republican sabotage of affordable health care will lead to higher costs and less care for our neighbors who need it most. One of the most popular and important parts of the Affordable Care Act is the end to discrimination for people with preexisting conditions. President Trump and Republicans want to end that guarantee and in doing so will leave families with less coverage and higher costs.

"Unfortunately for Florida families, Florida Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi have sided with the Trump Administration to rip health coverage away. It is dismaying to think that these public officials are intent on stripping away protections for our neighbors with diabetes, asthma, cancer, heart conditions and more. This latest attack is disturbing but not surprising - Governor Scott and AG Bondi together with Congressional Republicans have been working to undermine the consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act since it was signed into law. Since President Trump took office they have become even more frenzied to sabotage affordable health care for Florida's and America's hardworking families.

"Before the Affordable Care Act, health insurers oftentimes outright rejected or offered severely limited coverage to Americans with preexisting conditions. It is beyond comprehension why the President, who should care for the well-being of the American people, would want to empower health insurers to once again be able to flat-out deny Americans insurance based on their health status."

U.S. Rep. Castor serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee, which has oversight over health care policy. U.S. Rep. Castor helped to craft the Affordable Care Act that protects the coverage of so many Florida families today. Throughout last summer's assault on the ACA, U.S. Rep. Castor joined with families, small business owners, seniors, patients, as well as health care professionals and advocates, in Washington, D.C. and in her district of Tampa, Fla., to highlight the devastating impact that White House and Republican efforts would have on the huge gains in coverage and peace of mind that the ACA has brought families across the country.