Rep. Sherrill Opposes Reckless Move to Tear Down Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement:

Today Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) opposed the Department of Justice's harmful decision to submit a filing in a Texas legal proceeding in support of a misguided ruling against the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

"Again and again, I hear from families in New Jersey who worry about how they are going afford their medical bills.

"This reckless decision to go after the Affordable Care Act would only add to the stress and uncertainty they face by taking healthcare from millions of Americans," said Congresswoman Sherrill.

"We need to work together to strengthen protections for pre-existing conditions and improve upon the gains made under the ACA, not tear it down. Congress should move immediately to strengthen the ACA and prevent the flood of junk insurance that would swamp Americans if the ACA is repealed."

More than 300,000 residents of New Jersey's 11th Congressional District live with a pre-existing condition. According to the Kaiser Foundation, 1 in 4 Americans under 65 live with a pre-existing condition that would make them uninsurable if coverage were to be rolled back.

Congresswoman Sherrill is Freshman Whip for the New Democrat Coalition, which sent a letter this month urging the House committees of jurisdiction to focus on strengthening the Affordable Care Act as we work toward quality and affordable universal coverage.