Rep. Cisneros Response to State of The Union Address

Statement

Today, Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) and his guest Julie Erick, a Fullerton resident and breast cancer survivor who relies on the pre-existing condition protections from the Affordable Care Act, attended the State of the Union Address. Following the President's Address, Rep. Cisneros issued the following statement:

"Access to quality, affordable healthcare has been a top issue for families in California's 39th District and across the country. More than 320,700 of my constituents, like Julie, depend on the Affordable Care Act's protections for pre-existing conditions. This evening, the President falsely claimed that his Administration has protected people with pre-existing conditions and our healthcare law.

"For the last three years, we've seen this Administration do nothing but undermine the law, its effectiveness, and its life-saving protections. That includes supporting the Texas lawsuit to undo protections for pre-existing conditions, cutting enrollment outreach funding, and implementing short-term junk plans that have raised premiums. The President and his Administration should be building upon the success of the Affordable Care Act, not sabotaging it.

"Regardless of the President's continued assault on our healthcare, I will keep fighting for my constituents and to uphold protections for pre-existing conditions. I will continue to find every opportunity to work across the aisle to solve America's most pressing issues. We need to take swift, bold action to lower prescription drug prices and the Senate should pass H.R. 3, not cater to special interests and Big Pharma. We need to pass comprehensive immigration reform, not build a wasteful, ineffective wall. We need to address climate change, not ignore science. The American people deserve real solutions, and Democrats and Republicans in Congress should work together to deliver them."

Rep. Cisneros has been working to preserve and protect the ACA to ensure all Americans have access to affordable healthcare and to ensure those with pre-existing conditions never have to fear the possibility of discrimination or higher premiums.

Earlier last year, Rep. Cisneros voted to authorize the House of Representatives to intervene in the Texas lawsuit to strike down the ACA. Rep. Cisneros also supported H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, and H.R. 987, The Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, which passed the House following a letter sent to House Committee leaders urging quick action to stabilize the healthcare marketplace, reverse the Administration's undermining of ACA, and lower healthcare costs for consumers.

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