Sen. Rosen Issues Statement on Constitutionality of Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, issued the following statement in response to news that the Supreme Court will hear a case on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act:

"There is no issue that matters more to Nevadans than access to affordable, quality health care,"

"The Affordable Care Act has been instrumental in allowing access to care for individuals and families, including those with pre-existing conditions who could otherwise be denied coverage. This Administration's shameless attempts to sabotage and strip away the health care of Americans must stop. Without the ACA, countless Nevadans would lose health care coverage, including coverage protections for pre-existing conditions. I implore the Supreme Court to uphold the ACA's constitutionality. I will continue to fight on behalf of all Nevadans for access to quality, affordable health care."

BACKGROUND: As her first action in the Senate, Senator Rosen joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) in introducing a resolution that would authorize Senate Legal Counsel to intervene in Texas v. United States - a pending lawsuit in federal court, on behalf of the U.S. Senate, in order to defend the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and its coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Just last week, the Trump Administration filed a brief in this case calling for the courts to strike down the ACA in its entirety.

Last Congress, then-Congresswoman Rosen introduced the same resolution in the House. Rosen's House resolution was co-sponsored by the Ranking Members of all House committees of jurisdiction in addition to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer. The resolution had nearly 190 co-sponsors by the end of the 115th Congress.

Last year, Senator Rosen also helped introduce a resolution that would provide the sense of the Senate that the Justice Department should reverse its policy of refusing to defend the constitutionality of the ACA, including the law's coverage protections for those with pre-existing conditions, in Texas v. United States.