U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, Democrats Force Vote on Legislation to Protect People with Pre-Existing Conditions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus to force a vote on Senator Mark Warner’s (D-VA) resolution to roll back the Trump administration’s rule on 1332 waivers, which the Trump administration is using to push junk insurance plans that don’t have to cover people with pre-existing health conditions, and don’t have to cover essential Affordable Care Act health care like prescription drugs, emergency room visits, and maternity care.

The Democratic resolution was defeated by a Republican majority 52-43.

“Right now, the choice for the American people couldn’t be clearer. President Trump supports overturning the law that provides protections for people with pre-existing conditions while he is expanding junk plans that don’t provide those protections. That is the Republican health care plan. While Senate Democrats are working to help make things better for the American people, Senate Republicans are helping the Trump administration make things worse,” said Senator Baldwin.

Earlier today, Senator Baldwin was on the Senate floor to ask for unanimous consent to pass both her No Junk Plans Act and the ENROLL Act. Both pieces of legislation passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support earlier this year. Today, Senate Republicans obstructed a vote on the legislation.

Senator Baldwin’s No Junk Plans Act would overturn the Trump administration’s expansion of junk insurance plans that don’t have to cover people with pre-existing health conditions, and don’t have to cover essential Affordable Care Act health care like prescription drugs, emergency room visits, and maternity care.

Senator Baldwin’s ENROLL Act would restore funding for the Navigator program that helps American families get the information and support they need to find a quality health care plan at a price they can afford. Since President Trump took office, his administration has slashed federal funding for the Navigator program by 84 percent. Trusted Navigator programs like those in Wisconsin have had their funding cut by nearly 75 percent since 2017, meaning fewer people in Wisconsin have received the support they need to obtain affordable coverage.