[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 113 (Monday, July 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4684-S4685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               HEALTHCARE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now on healthcare, tomorrow the Fifth 
Circuit will hear oral arguments in the case of Texas v. United States. 
The fate of our entire healthcare system hangs in the balance. This 
challenge to the Affordable Care Act, brought by Republican State 
attorneys general and regrettably supported by President Trump and his 
administration, represents the latest efforts by Republicans to 
dismantle healthcare as we know it in America.
  After failing to repeal our healthcare through Federal legislation, 
Republicans have now turned to the courts. If Republicans get their way 
in this case, the impact on Americans would be catastrophic; that is 
not an exaggeration--catastrophic. It would result in the elimination 
of protections for people with preexisting conditions, possibly 
increasing costs for 133 million Americans under 65.
  If you have a son or daughter with cancer and the insurance company 
cuts you off, that is catastrophic, nothing less. How many people will 
go through that if our Republican friends have their way? It would 
result in skyrocketing prescription drug costs for seniors or Medicare. 
Let's say there is a lifesaving drug, but it is too expensive, and you 
can't afford it, that is catastrophic to most Americans.
  Millions of people would be kicked off Medicaid, leaving the most 
vulnerable out to fend for themselves. Again, you desperately need 
care, but no one will give it to you. That is catastrophic.
  Bring it all together, and what our Republican friends want to do is 
make Americans pay higher prices for inferior care. That is cruelty on 
a massive scale.
  Of course, we have been here before. For nearly 2 years, the 
administration pushed Congress to repeal the ACA--a crusade that failed 
on the Senate floor multiple times. President Trump's budget calls for 
trillions in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. He has opened up the 
floodgates for junk plans that don't cover the things that really 
count, like cancer treatment, maternity care, addiction services, and 
he has deliberately worked to make it harder for people to sign up for 
healthcare.
  On that court case, 47 Democrats wished that we would join the 
lawsuit. We asked Republicans to join us in that. I think it was only 
one who was. Where are our Republican friends? They talk about wanting 
to preserve preexisting conditions, but they are mum when the 
administration they support tries to repeal them. It is hypocrisy--
hypocrisy. If you believe in supporting people's protections for 
preexisting conditions, you oppose the lawsuit and join us in saying 
that lawsuit should not be filed. Our Republican friends know where the 
people are, but they are afraid. They are quivering that Donald Trump 
will be angry with them if they oppose his lawsuit. Shame on them.
  Our Republican friends can never argue that they are the party of 
healthcare. When President Trump argues that Republicans are the party 
of

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healthcare, God help the middle class. They are the party of no 
healthcare; the party of repeal with no plan to replace.
  This lawsuit is just the latest salvo against the American people, 
and it shows that so long as Republicans are in power, the healthcare 
of the American people will not be safe. If they are successful in 
striking down the Affordable Care Act, Republicans--all of them--will 
own the consequences.

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