Manchin Again Demands Vote on His Resolution to Defend 800K West Virginians with Pre-Existing Conditions
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) again took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to pass his resolution to protect nearly 800,000 West Virginians and millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions from losing their healthcare. Today oral arguments began in the Texas v. United States - the lawsuit being waged by 20 U.S. Attorneys General, including West Virginia’s Attorney General, that would once again allow insurance companies to deny health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions. This is the second time in two weeks that Senate Republicans have used procedural maneuvers to block a vote on this resolution. On August 23rd, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell disregarded a bipartisan agreement in order to block another vote on Senator Manchin’s resolution.
Two weeks ago, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and 9 other Republicans filed a bill separating themselves from the ongoing lawsuit threatening to strip away critical protections for people with pre-existing conditions. While the bill would not provide anywhere near the level of protection necessary to protect the nearly 800,000 West Virginians with pre-existing conditions, it acknowledges for the first time that the lawsuit now pending in the Northern District of Texas (Texas vs. United States), led by 20 Republican Attorneys General, including West Virginia’s Attorney General, will rip healthcare away from people with pre-existing conditions.
To watch the video of Senator Manchin’s remarks, click here.
To read Senator Manchin’s resolution, click here.
Read Senator Manchin’s floor remarks as prepared for delivery below:
Today I call for a live unanimous consent request on my resolution to protect nearly 800,000 West Virginians and millions of Americans from losing their health insurance.
See, their health insurance is in immediate danger.
Today, oral arguments began in the Texas v. the United States lawsuit being waged by 20 U.S. Attorneys General, including West Virginia’s Attorney General, that will once again allow insurance companies to deny health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions.
And now that the Department of Justice has recklessly refused to defend the existing law, people with cancer, heart disease, asthma, diabetes or pregnant women, are at risk of financial and physical duress.
Today we have a chance to help right this wrong.
My resolution – S. Res. 581 – will allow the Senate Legal Counsel to intervene and defend West Virginians and Americans with pre-existing conditions from this inhumane lawsuit.
Even my Republican colleagues have admitted that millions of Americans will lose their health insurance if the Republican Attorneys General succeed.
In a press release, Senator Tillis and the nine other Republicans who introduced the bill wrote that, “Oral arguments in Texas v. United States will begin on September 5th, and if the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, protections for patients with pre-existing conditions could be eliminated.”
My good friends Senator Tillis and Senator Murkowski said in their own words that this lawsuit will take away healthcare coverage from people with pre-existing conditions.
Senator Tillis said, “This legislation is a common-sense solution that guarantees Americans with pre-existing conditions will have health care coverage, regardless of how our judicial system rules on the future of Obamacare.”
Senator Murkowski said, “With the uncertainty of the outcome in the upcoming Texas v. United States case, this legislation is needed now more than ever to give Alaskans, and all Americans, the certainty they need that protections for those with pre-existing conditions will remain intact.”
Millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions are trusting us to defend their right to affordable health insurance.
Today – right here and right now – we have an opportunity to do the right thing and directly make the lives of millions of Americans better.
###
Next Article Previous Article
