Lets do the right thing and lets do it the right way. With that i will yield the floor. I come to the floor today in opposition to the nomination of judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. I am truly disappointed my republican colleagues have chosen to grandma through this aminee in the middle of pandemic when an election is underway and tens of millions of americans have already cast their ballot. The senate should be focused on a bipartisan relief package to help americans across the country who are struggling to pay the b bills and put food on the table during the pandemic. Instead, the only priority has been to push through a nominee who will alter the balance of the court and affect the lives of generations of americans days before the ballots will be counted to decide the next president of the United States and the makeup of this very body. The stakes in the nomination couldnt be higher. I want to read an excerpt from tuan email i received from a constituent this is from dave in portsmouth New Hampshire. Dave writes what is at stake with this Supreme Court nomination. Among the topics that have stricken the deepest sadness, pain and fear in the eyes, minds and hearts are the goals of the administration to dismantle the affordablear care act, a womans right and only her right to make decisions about her body and her life and the rights of the community. I ask unanimous consent to include the text of this email into the record. Without objection. The president and his allies here onn capitol hill are trying to tear down the healthcare law that has helped provide millions with Health Coverage in the middle of the greatest Public Health crisis in a century. Theyve pressed forward with this attempt even though they dont have a plan for what to do when as many as 23 million americans in New Hampshire, more than 100,000 would lose their healthcare coverage. I want to repeat that. This administration and Congressional Republicans have no plan for what to do if millions of americans were to lose their healthcare coverage if the Affordable Care act is overturned. We have seen for the last six years Congressional Republicans have tried to repeal the aca numerous times and they failed every time because the American People raise their voices and made itre clear they want to kep the Affordable Care act and strengthen it, not repeal it. Now we are seeing the administration and Congressional Republicans try to do in the courts what they were not able a to get done in congress, to overturn the affordablee care act. Eewe have seen judg judge barree her feelings very clear. She disagreed with decisions to uphold the last two times before it came before the Supreme Court and h she wouldnt answer questions about the law during her confirmation hearing. It would be a crushing blow to the most vulnerable populations during this pandemic. If the Court Strikes down the act in its entirety americans across the country will lose access to Medicaid Expansion. Medicaid expansion is a critical source of coverage for millions of americans and in New Hampshire for thousands whove lost their jobs during this pandemic. We have seen enrollment in Medicaid Expansion has increased by more than 11,000 since the start of the pandemic as we have seen job losses mount. For these individuals and all of the more than 60,000 who are covered through Medicaid Expansion, the loss of the aca in the Supreme Court would eliminate a critical lifeline for coverage during this health crisis. In New Hampshire if we lose Medicaid Expansion we also lose our most important tool for combating opioid epidemics. Without the aca we would go back to a time when Insurance Companies have sweeping power to undercut coverage. They would be allowed to charge higher premiums for women than men. They would be able to remove essential Health Benefits like Prescription Drugs or Maternity Care and rise premiums or deny coverage altogether for individuals with preexisting conditions. More than 8 million americans including nearly 10,000 granite stators could be denied coverage because they previously contracted covid19 which can count has as a preexisting condition and without the aca, seniors could once again find themselves stuck in the doughnut hole for Prescription Drug coverage at the time when we are seeing drug prices soar. And in the confirmation hearings, judge barrett even refused to say whether the Medicaid Program is constitutional. Judge barrett on the Supreme Court t the Health Coverage that the aca, medicare and other federal programs provide would be under a constant threat. Sadly womens reproductive rights are also on the line. When he ran for president in 2016, donald trump said he would appoint judges who would overturn roe v wade. We are seeing that very clearly with judge barrett record. It shows President Trump is pres trying to do just that, overturn roe v wade. As Amy Coney Barretts opinions while serving on the seventh circuit have shown she is comfortable with laws that make it difficult or nearly impossible for a woman to exercise her right to make her ownde Reproductive Health decisions shes publicly supported an organization that is supposed opposed to in vitro fertilization, a procedure thats helped millions of couples start a family. Almost 50 years are in jeopardy because republicans are playing politics with the Supreme Court and packing the court with extreme justices. There are nearly 20 abortion relaterelated cases currently p away from reaching the Supreme Court. It would likely disregard longstanding precedent in the cases and put Womens Health and at risk. And lets be clear repealing roe v wade isnt going to reduce the number if history is any indication. What it does is increase the number. Unfortunately, the Affordable Care act and womens rights are two of the areas that a partisan Supreme Court could dramatically alter. E quality is another major concern. Millions of gay and lesbian have been married but now the justices challenge the constitutionality of the decision and called for it to be revisited. Onwhen asked in her confirmation hearing about the president to legalize samesex marriage, judge barrett was a basis so you understand the anxiety and fear as they watch the Republicanled Senate rush this nomination. The stakes are also incredibly high for voting rights, worker protection, common sense gun laws and so many other issues that are in jeopardy with the appointment of judge barrett. I know that the dice hasee been cast. We saw that yesterday with the 5148 cloture vote. But i believe this effort to politicize the Supreme Court is a decision that those who care about our Democratic Institutions will come to regret for many decades to come and if todays vote is the same as yesterday, this will be the closest vote for a Supreme Court justice in the nations entire history. We shouldnt be doing this today. We should be focusing on what the American Public is most concerned about, help with the coronavirus. F thank you mr. President. I will yield back the floor. The senator from nevada. I rise today because the healthcare of millions is in danger. Healthcare is in danger because in just a few weeks the Supreme Court will consider a case that could overturn the Affordable Care act completely. This means the next Supreme Court justice will decide whether individuals with preexisting conditions could once again be denied healthcare coverage. The fact is the administration has tried for years to overturn Affordable Care act. First it attempted to repeal through legislation. They failed repeatedly because congress and the American People do not support the schemes to take away our healthcare. Then they changed the strategy and tried to use the courts to dismantle the nations healthcare system. Now with an election just one week away, Senate Republicans are scrambling to confirm a new Supreme Court justice in order to tip the balance of the court in favor ofit the lawsuits aimig to destroy the Affordable Care act. T to follow what they established not only do they support the decision on dismantling the healthcare law but if confirmed, she could very well be the deciding vote to undo the Affordable Care act and take healthcare away from millions of americans. Judge barretts hostility is on the record and we have seen a long extensive paper trail outlining her opposition. Past comments paint a bleak picture of what the future would look like. To put it simply this attempt to use the court to take away Americas Health insurance and raise the cost of care especially at this moment during a Global Pandemic is not only cruel and reckless, it is deadly. Ive met many families and heard stories from men, women and children whose lives would be devastated without the act. Cancer survivors, people with diabetes, asthma, Cystic Fibrosis and countless other preexisting conditions that affect families. These are people whose healthcare would be jeopardized if it were no longer the law of the land. I tell my constituents i carry their stories with me to washington and they informed the actions and the decisions i take so i want to take some time to share some of the stories ive heard, whose lives have been saved and who enjoy quality of life because of the Affordable Care act, story from those who are outraged about whats happening he reached out to my office to make their voices heard and countless stories of how allowing the aca to be dismantled would impact their lives. First i want to share a letter from henderson nevada. Jens husband. 2 is one of the 1. 2 million estimated to be living with a preexisting condition. Like many people, shes worried about the health of her husband in future of her family if the Affordable Care act is eliminated. Here is what she wrote. Dear senator rosen, im watching the confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett and im listening to the conversation around the aca. I am scared to death it will be overturned and what it means for me and my husband. In february, 2019 at only 38, he had a devastating stroke and had to stay in the hospital for four months. Ifce he hadnt had insurance, we would never have been able to afford his care. Im scared of losing that protection for preexisting conditions. He will need specialists for the rest of his life as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy. We cannot afford his care otherwise. I am so scared. Please help. Unfortunately, the situation and concerns are far too common. Many across the country are worried about a future where they could lose their lifesaving coverage. There is another letter worried about their own continued healthcare without the protections provided. Ive had asthma my whole life and its severe. I finally have good insurance and i needed desperately. This will affect millions of us. Ive lived through not having insurance, and it almost killed me. Insurance companies were asking higher premiums than what i made. Those acrosste the state are absolutely terrified about the possibility of losing care because of this nomination. I received a letter from a not bad and in a small town in the western part of the state who wanted to share with me her struggles and fears for the future. She said this. Ive been fighting a rare and aggressive form of Breast Cancer for the. Past four years. I still have numerous surgeries and part of my ongoing battle against this devastating disease. I worry about how the law of the preexisting conditions would adversely affect my treatment plan and my everyday Financial Security and ability to get Health Insurance in the future should i lose what i currently have. The Affordable Care act opened up the door to healthcare all over my state. Communities both bige and small. These are real people with real struggles i and families who desperately want the best possible care for their loved ones. Whats at stake here is life and death for too many across this country. Assuring the health of our loved ones should be an essential, basic human right. More than 200,000 get coverage to the expanded Medicaid Program and thanks to the Affordable Care act that over 77,000 have coverage in the Insurance Exchange and its thanks to the Affordable Care act that over 19,000 under the age of 26 get to remain covered through their parents Health Insurance plans. All of these people, thats one in ten could lose their Health Insurance if the Supreme Court overturns the aca. All of them could face denials in the care they both need and deserve. Not to mention in untold number who can get coverage because insurancean companies can no longer put lifetime caps on their healthcare coverage. They could limit how much they would pay for the medical bills your lifetime. One constituents voiced her concerns that without protections we would see a return of lifetime caps on coverage. I am concerned about the potential elimination of the Affordable Care act. In addition to the potential elimination of preexisting conditions, no one seems to address the issue of lifetime limits which were eliminated under the aca. For those with longterm illnesses, i stand to the medicalur insurance while battlg catastrophic illnesses. While my husband has been battling cancer for several years, w if the lifetime limit were to be reinstated we would no longer be covered for any of his chemo or other cancer related treatments. Im sure that the companies would jump at the chance to stop coverage for those with extraordinarily high medical expenses. The American People want us to protect their care. They do not want to see the Affordable Care act eliminated. The fact is the healthcare coverage is better now than it was before. Insurance plans now have to cover those essential Health Benefits that we h fought hard r the coverage that are not there when you need them. In addition to that, many middle income can access Affordable Care because it is a much needed tax credit. Ive spoken with and heard from countless nevadans and i can say with certainty that no issue matters more to people in my state than their health and safety and health of their loved ones. The Affordable Care act not only gives families the peace of mind but has literally saved lives. Without the critical protections, the aca provides we risked going back to t the days when the big Insurance Companies could deny coverage based on preexisting conditions. Repealing the Affordable Care act would have dire consequences for hardworking nevada families and families across the country. We need access to healthcare more now than ever and taking critical protections away from nevadans. Carol wrote to me saying this our country is in a Public Health crisis right now, one that gets worse by the day. In this moment, we need our legislators to protect our families and provide support and to do the job elected them to do. We cannot rush through the nomination of the justice on the record as hostile to the law that provides our healthcare protections. In the middle of a catastrophic pandemic that has left more than 225,000 americans dead. Not only that, but this pandemic has put millions of americans at riskov of being dined coverage because of a preexisting condition. Imagine being someone who suffers even ami mild case onlyo have their coverage taken away because of this new preexisting condition. And just this week we are seeing the highest positivity rates across the country that we have seen thus far. Instead of developing a clear National Strategy for combating the virus across a comprehensive legislation to assist americans in need of a lifeline during this difficult time, this administration and senator mcconnell seem to be preoccupied with rushing through a Supreme Court nominee whos outwardly hostile to the Affordable Care act. Coming to congress i made it my mission not only to preserve the Affordable Care act but expand care for all americans. I look to increase access and improve quality of care. In fact one of my first actions was to join my colleague senator joe manchin introducing legislation to demand that the senate intervened to defend the Affordable Care act. Appoint justices who will overturn roe v. Wade and undermine access to health care, certainly not what i want and not what the majority of your constituents want. He continues the election is already under way and we should be given the power to determine which senate is focused on this seat. The senate should not be fasttracking a Supreme Court nominee. End quote. We are only nine days away from an election, but lets be clear, the election has already started, and millions of americans all across our country have already cast their ballot. Theyve mailed in their ballots and early voting is happening in many places as we speak, including my home state of nevada. We should allow the American People to have their say at the ballot box before the Senate Considers a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, one that will determine the future of access to quality, Affordable Health care. In the United States for everyone. Im sure that the other senators, well, theyre hearing the same stories from their constituents, like the ones i shared today, and i truly hope that my colleagues really listen to them that they really hear the pain, the anguish, and the anxiety that so Many Americans are feeling just right here in this moment. Their lives, their health care, theyre going to be directly impacted by our decisions. I will not support the nomination of a Supreme Court justice who does not support the Affordable Care act. I will vote against judge barretts nomination