Last night, the Trump administration announced a new assault on the health of Americans in New Jersey and around the country. Under Jeff Sessions, the Trump Justice Department will no longer defend the constitutionality of key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions, of whom there are an estimated 331,000 in the 7th congressional district. Today, former Assistant Secretary of State and Democratic candidate Tom Malinowski called on Congressman Lance to oppose this harmful measure.
“My opponent, Leonard Lance, voted to repeal or gut the ACA more than 60 times, including its protections for preexisting conditions, and voted for the health care repeal bill in committee,” said Malinowski. “With health insurance premiums rising and basic protections for the most vulnerable Americans under attack, it’s long past time for Lance to stand up for the people he claims to represent.”
The Administration’s virtually unprecedented decision not to defend existing statutes in court will leave millions of Americans without protections that the White House had previously sworn to uphold. Furthermore, the announcement will increase uncertainty in the health care market just as insurers are planning rate changes for next year, virtually guaranteeing premium hikes for New jersey families.
Malinowski concluded, “If elected I will work to protect the Affordable Care Act, and to strengthen it by introducing a Medicare option for all — so that every American will have access to affordable and quality healthcare.”