Hirono Decries President’s ‘Malicious’ Efforts to Annul Affordable Care Act

US Sen. Mazie Hirono.

Today, on the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enactment, Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai’i) called on the Trump Administration to abandon its efforts to repeal the law.

Last week, Hirono joined Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and 18 of their colleagues in urging President Trump to forgo his “malicious attempts to sabotage and undermine our nation’s health care system,” a press release from Hirono said.

The press release added that the president’s efforts to annul the ACA are “especially dangerous” during the COVID-19 pandemic, and “further jeopardize the health and economic security of workers, families, and the most vulnerable in our communities.”

“The American people should never have to worry that their President will pull their health insurance out from under them, but they especially shouldn’t have that fear during a pandemic,” the Senators wrote.

“The Affordable Care Act gives millions of Americans the peace of mind and the financial means to access health care, ensuring personal health and promoting public health. It’s cruel to continue asking the courts to invalidate the ACA and pursuing your various other approaches to take away health care protections in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak.”

In addition to Sens. Hirono and Kaine, the letter was signed by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio),  Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass,). 

Earlier this month, Hirono called on the Trump Administration to re-open the ACA enrollment window to provide Americans who are uninsured or at-risk of COVID-19 an opportunity to purchase health insurance during this global pandemic.