[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 166 (Monday, October 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               H.R. 3055

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, very briefly, I wanted to highlight a story 
that was in today's Wall Street Journal, entitled ``As Court Case 
Imperils Affordable Care Act, Some States Prepare Contingency Plans.'' 
That is the headline. The subheadline is this: ``Lawmakers explore ways 
to preserve coverage, benefits if the health law is struck down.''
  This is the opening paragraph that I will read--it is not very long, 
but I want to read it--from the story today:

       A federal appeals court decision that could strike down the 
     Affordable Care Act as soon as this month has rattled 
     officials in several states who are pursuing legislation to 
     preserve some coverage in the absence of any Trump 
     administration contingency plan.
       Lawmakers in states including Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico 
     and California have passed bills or are reviewing action 
     aimed at dealing with the fallout if the ACA is overturned.

  That is from the very beginning of the article. I will not go 
further, other than to say that this is a grave matter. If a Federal 
appeals court were to rule in favor of the moving party on appeal--or I 
should say the moving party at the beginning of the suit--and affirm 
the district court, what would happen if that were the case? The 
patient protection in the Affordable Care Act would be wiped out, and 
it would cause not just chaos but would take away protections from 
people like those who have protections for a preexisting condition and 
would also take healthcare coverage away from millions, if not tens of 
millions.
  This is a critically important matter, and it deserves and warrants 
the attention of Members of the Senate and the House as well.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.