Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Texas v. United States striking down the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate and throwing the rest of law into jeopardy:
“Today, Republicans took another step forward in their grand scheme to strike down the ACA, eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions and take health insurance away from tens of millions of Americans. This decision puts the health care of millions of Americans on the line.
“Make no mistake, this has been Republicans’ health care plan all along. There is no secret Republican plan to protect the hundreds of millions of Americans that will be harmed should the rest of the ACA be struck down by the lower court. Their only goal is to eliminate the ACA and the consumer protections it provides, sending us back to the days when insurance companies could freely discriminate against people because they didn’t think they were healthy enough.
“The good news is the fight isn’t over. Democrats will continue to fight this meritless decision. The health and wellbeing of millions of Americans is on the line and we will keep fighting to protect their health care."
