DEFUNDING AFFORDABLE CARE ACT LITIGATION:

The House on July 30 voted, 234 for and 181 against, to deny funding of the Department of Justice’s participation in a lawsuit brought by Republican governors and attorneys general to overturn the Affordable Care Act. The suit is pending before the Supreme Court, and the Trump administration has filed a brief there calling for the law to be struck down. The defunding language was added to a bill (HR 7617), later passed, that would appropriate $33.2 billion for the department along with more than $1 trillion to fund the budgets of numerous other cabinet departments and agencies in fiscal 2021.

Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., said “over four million Americans have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, a new preexisting condition. Over 30 million … have lost their jobs, and over five million have lost their health insurance at the worst possible time. And while this health crisis has been unfolding, the Trump administration will not stop until they destroy the Affordable Care Act.”

Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., said, “Unfortunately, Obamacare has been an unlawful failure, but fortunately, this administration remains committed to providing more affordable health care options to all Americans. … It is not appropriate for Congress to tell the executive branch what position it should take in court. Litigation strategy is [the] responsibility and prerogative of the Department of Justice.”

A yes vote was to block the funding.

ARKANSAS

Voting no: Westerman

TEXAS

Not voting: Gohmert, Granger